Some ethical implications of qualitative research

Abstract

Traditional values in nursing dictate a high level of concern for the welfare of research participants. Initial attempts at setting minimal ethical standards stemmed from the quantitative approaches. As qualitative modalities are more widely used, nurses must become acutely aware of possible problems in study design and planning, the dangers of coercion and deception, threats to confidentiality and trust, implications of the emergent design, and providing for a new concept of informed consent. The new character of the research relationship is examined in light of possible strategies for protection of research participants while preserving the integrity of qualitative investigation.

Ethics of qualitative interviewing with grieving families

“…Because of this, I supplement the consent procedure that occurs before the research begins with a "processual consent" procedure (Ramos, 1989;Thorne, 1980) that occurs during the research. This involves repeatedly giving people opportunities to stop me or at least avoid a particularly difficult question.…”

Ethical and Methodologic Benefits of Using a Reflexive Journal in Hermeneutic‐Phenomenologic Research

“…Initial enthusiasm should not be construed as an invitation to intrude into a participant's secret territory. The journal shows many examples of repeatedly checking the participants' willingness to continue, thus emphasising the ethical importance of ongoing consent (Ramos, 1989).…”

The ethics of qualitative nursing research

“…The researcher role must be emphasized and defined. The need for intuitive sense, ethics education, and ongoing attention to the tenuous nature of consent in the process of interviewing and observing are examined by a number of authors on the subject (Ford & Reutter, 1990;Hutchinson, 1985;Lincoln & Guba, 1989;Ramos, 1989).…”

“…Guiding the depth of an interview, protecting the trust of respondents, being open to the data, realizing a certain degree of dependency exists in some respondents, anticipating the need for therapeutic intervention in some situations, and constantly permitting flexible communication and discussion of emergent problems-all call attention to a humane, moral, and responsible way of conducting research (Cowles, 1988;Ramos, 1989).…”

“…Nurses have repeatedly written about an ethical dilemma unique to the nurse researcher-role conflict (Cowles, 1988;Fowler, 1988;MunhaU, 1999;Ramos, 1989;Robinson & Thorne, 1988). This occurs when the ethics of protecting the person as patient clashes with the role of researcher.…”