Question

Ethical consideration for a longitudinal study of the impact of domestic violence victims in South Africa
Define Voluntary participation and in text reference it

Answer 1

**Voluntary Participation:** Voluntary participation refers to the principle that individuals should have the freedom to choose whether or not to participate in a study without any coercion or undue influence. This means that participants must be fully informed about the nature of the research, its purpose, what their involvement entails, and any potential risks associated with their participation. Importantly, they must be able to withdraw from the study at any time without facing any penalties or consequences (American Psychological Association, 2020).

In a longitudinal study of the impact of domestic violence victims in South Africa, ensuring voluntary participation is crucial for ethical standards. Researchers must provide clear information about the study and obtain informed consent, which includes emphasizing that participation is entirely voluntary and that participants can withdraw whenever they wish.

**Reference:** American Psychological Association. (2020). *Publication manual of the American Psychological Association* (7th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.