Qualitative research at the crossroads of open science and big data: Ethical considerations

Abstract

Open science practices are quickly being scaled up with publishers, grant‐makers, and Institutional Review Boards implementing new open policies, including requirements for increased data sharing across all types of research. Prior open science guidelines have focused mostly on issues relevant to quantitative, lab‐based, experimental research. Qualitative and other research traditions must be considered in the further development and implementation of these guidelines to ensure ethical practices in a new era where data is plentiful and being leveraged for research and other means. This article includes a discussion of why we must consider new research ethics in this era of big data and what steps can be taken to improve research practices through a systems change framework, The Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research.

It’s time to join the conversation: Visions of the Future for Qualitative Transparency and Openness in Management and Organisation Studies

“…This was seen as especially problematic when considering required publication of raw, identifiable data, a practice which has been deemed inappropriate by other qualitative scholars due to potential violations of confidentiality, ethics and participant trust (Chauvette et al, 2019;Bishop, 2009). While sharing anonymised data may be a safer option, scholars in proximate disciplines have commented on the challenges and risks of fully anonymising qualitative data (Stegenga et al, 2024), and note that to do so effectively, vast time and monetary resource is required that may not be available to all (Campbell et al, 2023;Dennis et al, 2019). Indeed, recent commentary notes that such drives for data transparency, combined with concerns of research ethics could result in the 'decontextualization' of qualitative data, the silencing of researchers and participants, and a false 'objectification' of qualitative research (Hansen et al, 2023).…”