‘I’ll sue you if you publish my wife’s interview’: ethical dilemmas in qualitative research based on life stories

Abstract

This article addresses ethical dilemmas linked to using in-depth interviews while researching blended families in Israel, mainly during the analysis phase and while getting interviewees' final written approval, prior to publication. Amongst the dilemmas presented are: should we publish statements that we thought might harm the interviewee even though we got their approval? Or those including pejorative statements on members of the interviewee's extended family who weren't asked for consent as they weren't interviewed? We bring several types of changes our interviewees requested and demonstrate how we responded, not always successfully. Finally, we rethink dilemmas related to the complex issues of confidentiality and consent and raise questions-still open-these dilemmas generate. We discuss our own frustrations vis-à-vis the power vested with our interviewees that might affect the quality of any research when too many requests for substantial changes are done as a precondition for a written approval.

When people matter: The ethics of qualitative research in the health and social sciences

“…Over 20 years have passed since Taylor and Bogdan (1998) first introduced the idea of being 'honest but not cruel'. Doing no harm is a basic ethical principle (McDonand et al, 2017;Sabar & Sabar, 2017).…”

“…However, this is a far cry from the realities of the qualitative research carried out in the health and social sciences. In such qualitative studies, the majority of research designs change and develop over time, and different dilemmas arise as the work progresses (Hewitt, 2007;Sabar & Sabar, 2017). Guillemin and Gillam (2004) distinguish between procedural ethics and ethics in practice.…”

“…But this alone is not always enough. As Sabar and Sabar (2017) argue, qualitative researchers should, above all, ensure respect for the participants in their studies. In the world of research, ethical practice implies that the relationship we establish with participants should respect human dignity and integrity, and should be one in which people feel safe, comfortable and among friends (Simons, 2009).…”

Social and Behavioral Research with Undocumented Immigrants: Navigating an IRB Committee

“…Even when consent is obtained from research participants, other issues can arise. In one study, which obtained permission from participants, family members of those participants subsequently threatened the researchers that findings could not be published (Sabar & Sabar Ben-Yehoshua, 2017). Thus, researchers and IRBs need to prepare for considerations from a variety of perspectives.…”

Storied possessions : post-household disbandment older adult placemaking through meaningful belongings

“…In addition to these practical safeguards, I engaged in reflection about the interviews both during and after the collection process to increase my self-awareness and reduce the chances of harming the interviewee (Sabar & Sabar Ben-Yehoshua, 2017). I considered possible ethical dilemmas that might arise during our interactions and how I would respond to them (Mason, 2002).…”