Question
Identify the ethical guidelines that should be considered in the below scenario.
Paul, an English teacher in a school, is pursuing a part-time master’s degree in school improvement. His dissertation project involves both quantitative and qualitative enquiry into the nature and impact of in-class teaching assistant support to pupils. He does not inform either the students or the teaching assistants that he is conducting research and using his observations of them in his dissertation project.
Ethics in analysis and reporting
Appropriate referral
Deception
Research with vulnerable populations
Voluntary participation
Anonymity
Informed consent
Confidentiality
Discontinuance
Paul, an English teacher in a school, is pursuing a part-time master’s degree in school improvement. His dissertation project involves both quantitative and qualitative enquiry into the nature and impact of in-class teaching assistant support to pupils. He does not inform either the students or the teaching assistants that he is conducting research and using his observations of them in his dissertation project.
Ethics in analysis and reporting
Appropriate referral
Deception
Research with vulnerable populations
Voluntary participation
Anonymity
Informed consent
Confidentiality
Discontinuance
Answers
GPT-4o mini
In the given scenario involving Paul, several ethical guidelines are relevant and should be considered:
1. **Informed Consent**: Paul should have informed the students and teaching assistants about his research. Informed consent is crucial in research involving human subjects as it ensures participants are aware of the study's purpose, procedures, risks, and benefits, and that they voluntarily agree to participate.
2. **Confidentiality**: Even if Paul had informed the participants, he needs to ensure that any data collected is treated confidentially, with personal identifying information being protected to maintain privacy.
3. **Anonymity**: Related to confidentiality, ensuring that the identities of the participants are not disclosed in any reports or publications stemming from his research is vital.
4. **Deception**: By not informing the participants that they were being observed as part of a research project, Paul may inadvertently engage in deception. Ethical research typically requires transparency about the researcher's intentions.
5. **Research with Vulnerable Populations**: If the students involved are considered a vulnerable population (e.g., minors), there are additional ethical considerations and protections that must be in place to safeguard their rights and welfare.
6. **Voluntary Participation**: Participants should have the right to choose whether or not to participate in research. In Paul's case, without informing the students and teaching assistants, their participation cannot be considered truly voluntary.
7. **Ethics in Analysis and Reporting**: Ethics extend to how Paul analyzes and reports his findings; he must ensure that he accurately represents the data without omission or manipulation of important facts.
8. **Appropriate Referral**: If the research uncovers any issues or needs related to the participants that go beyond the study's scope, appropriate referrals should be made to ensure their well-being.
9. **Discontinuance**: Researchers should be aware that they have an ethical obligation to discontinue the study if it causes harm to participants or if unforeseen ethical concerns arise.
In summary, Paul must address informed consent, confidentiality, anonymity, deception, ethical treatment of vulnerable populations, voluntary participation, the ethics of analysis and reporting, appropriate referral, and the obligation for potential discontinuance of the study, all of which are foundational principles in conducting ethical research.
1. **Informed Consent**: Paul should have informed the students and teaching assistants about his research. Informed consent is crucial in research involving human subjects as it ensures participants are aware of the study's purpose, procedures, risks, and benefits, and that they voluntarily agree to participate.
2. **Confidentiality**: Even if Paul had informed the participants, he needs to ensure that any data collected is treated confidentially, with personal identifying information being protected to maintain privacy.
3. **Anonymity**: Related to confidentiality, ensuring that the identities of the participants are not disclosed in any reports or publications stemming from his research is vital.
4. **Deception**: By not informing the participants that they were being observed as part of a research project, Paul may inadvertently engage in deception. Ethical research typically requires transparency about the researcher's intentions.
5. **Research with Vulnerable Populations**: If the students involved are considered a vulnerable population (e.g., minors), there are additional ethical considerations and protections that must be in place to safeguard their rights and welfare.
6. **Voluntary Participation**: Participants should have the right to choose whether or not to participate in research. In Paul's case, without informing the students and teaching assistants, their participation cannot be considered truly voluntary.
7. **Ethics in Analysis and Reporting**: Ethics extend to how Paul analyzes and reports his findings; he must ensure that he accurately represents the data without omission or manipulation of important facts.
8. **Appropriate Referral**: If the research uncovers any issues or needs related to the participants that go beyond the study's scope, appropriate referrals should be made to ensure their well-being.
9. **Discontinuance**: Researchers should be aware that they have an ethical obligation to discontinue the study if it causes harm to participants or if unforeseen ethical concerns arise.
In summary, Paul must address informed consent, confidentiality, anonymity, deception, ethical treatment of vulnerable populations, voluntary participation, the ethics of analysis and reporting, appropriate referral, and the obligation for potential discontinuance of the study, all of which are foundational principles in conducting ethical research.