Covert research and adult protection and safeguarding: an ethical dilemma?

Parker, Jonathan; Crabtree, Sara Ashencaen

doi:10.1108/jap-07-2013-0029

Cited by 7 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…The same situation where some principles supersede others based on a situation was documented by Aellah et al (2016), who raised the issues of the emotional struggle researchers sometimes deal with when faced with the conditions of abject poverty experienced by some participants. If the action will not cause harm to any person, the principles of consent and privacy may be infringed to the best benefit of the participants and community (Hardwick & Worsely, 2011; Parker & Crabtree 2014).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Application of Ethics in the South African Rural Context

Mavhandu-Mudzusi

2023

International Journal of Qualitative Methods

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When conducting research, it is fundamentally important to adhere to universal ethical principles with the intent to minimise harm and maximise benefits. This is not always relevant as these principles are based on the Western way of doing things. In Western culture, the focus of ethics is mainly on individualism and this value undermines the essence of ubuntu. However, in the South African context, the individual is always seen in relation to significant others, meaning that relational philosophies need to inform context-specific ethics in these communities. This paper aims to advocate for the utilisation of contextually relevant ethical principles to embrace diverse South African contexts. The paper is based on the author’s reflexive practice in conducting research in South Africa’s rural areas. The reflection focuses on the researcher’s dilemma in implementing universal ethical principles in a rural South African context. The paper highlights congruent ethical approaches in a diverse African context guided by relational ethics which is grounded in ubuntu principles. The approaches ensure that researchers remain ethical by embracing ubuntu principles.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Application of Ethics in the South African Rural Context

Mavhandu-Mudzusi

2023

International Journal of Qualitative Methods

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“…But this is an area of life where there are many “unknown unknowns” as memorably suggested by Donald Rumsfeld. Indeed, the concept of informed consent is hotly contested (Parker and Ashencaen Crabtree, 2014). What is needed in respect of advance decisions and planning is the amplification of information, the debunking of myths and simplifying the process for completion.…”

Section: Ways Forward For the Futurementioning

confidence: 99%

From ovid to COVID: the metamorphosis of advanced decisions to refuse treatment into a safeguarding issue

Lyne

Parker

2020

JAP

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Purpose This paper aims to examine advance decisions to refuse treatment (ADRTs) in the context of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus 2019) pandemic. This study considers the development of ADRTs, the lack of take up and confusion among the general public, clinicians and health and social care staff. Design/methodology/approach The paper is a conceptual piece that reflects on ADRTs in the particular context of COVID-19. It considers professional concerns and pronouncements on ADRTs. Findings ADRTs have a low take up currently. There is misunderstanding among public and professionals. There is a need for raising awareness, developing practice and a need to allay fears of misuse and abuse of ADRTs in clinical, health and social care settings. Practical implications The authors make recommendations that reflexive training and awareness become the norm in health and social care, that reform of ADRTs is undertaken to prevent misunderstandings and that the person becomes central in all decision-making processes. Originality/value This paper is original in considering ADRTs as a safeguarding issue from two perspectives: that of the person making the ADRT and being confident in respect for the decisions made; and that of clinicians and other professionals being reflexively aware of the need to accept advance decisions and not acting according to unconscious biases in times of crisis.

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“…This demonstrates that health research via Twitter does not typically involve active recruitment, and the typical recruitment technique involves tweeting to large audiences unaware that they are participating in research, termed covert research. Arguments for covert research focus on concerns of bias when participants are made aware of the researcher's professional identity, which affects the validity of observations and data (Parker & Crabtree, 2014). Opponents of covert research argue that it is a form of deception that eliminates participants' choice and that lack of transparency can lead to less than ideal research circumstances, which may cause stress and harm to participants and decrease credibility of future researchers (Parker & Crabtree, 2014).…”

Section: Participant Recruitmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Arguments for covert research focus on concerns of bias when participants are made aware of the researcher's professional identity, which affects the validity of observations and data (Parker & Crabtree, 2014). Opponents of covert research argue that it is a form of deception that eliminates participants' choice and that lack of transparency can lead to less than ideal research circumstances, which may cause stress and harm to participants and decrease credibility of future researchers (Parker & Crabtree, 2014). Active or overt participant recruitment on Twitter may involve contacting participants individually and conducting the informed consent process based on research ethics approval process, which takes valuable time and resources; however, it is argued that trustworthy data can only be created through establishing a trusting relationship between the researcher and participants (Pitts & Mille-Day, 2007).…”

Section: Participant Recruitmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using Twitter for Data Collection With Health-Care Consumers

Zhang

Albrecht

Scott

2018

International Journal of Qualitative Methods

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Background: Twitter is one of the most popular social media platforms. The growing use of Twitter by health-care consumers creates a novel venue to understand patient experiences. To understand the potential for this platform to be utilized in patient-and family-oriented health research, this study reviewed published literature on the use of Twitter in health research. Methods: In collaboration with the research team, a research librarian designed and implemented a search strategy in eight databases. Primary and secondary screenings were conducted using predetermined criteria by one reviewer. A second reviewer verified screening decisions in 10% of the studies. Evidence tables were created to synthesize across the following study elements: research design, data collection techniques, analytic approaches, and author's insights on Twitter as a data collection method. Descriptive narrative analysis was used to synthesize data. Results: The search strategy captured 618 articles; 233 were eliminated in primary screening and 366 articles were eliminated during secondary screening. Verification by the second reviewer resulted in very good agreement (k ¼ .980). Seventeen articles were included in the final data set. Synthesis across the studies demonstrated that Twitter is currently used to search and mine research data, while active recruitment strategies on Twitter are just beginning to emerge. Conclusion: The novelty of Twitter for study recruitment and data collection with health-care consumers presents advantages and challenges that differ from traditional methods of data collection.

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Covert research and adult protection and safeguarding: an ethical dilemma?

Cited by 7 publications

References 33 publications

Application of Ethics in the South African Rural Context

Application of Ethics in the South African Rural Context

From ovid to COVID: the metamorphosis of advanced decisions to refuse treatment into a safeguarding issue

Using Twitter for Data Collection With Health-Care Consumers

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