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How might ethical issues be managed?

I think researchers should follow the golden rule, “Do unto others as they would do unto you.” All researchers should think of possible scenarios that could happen during their research and hypothesize what they might do in those cases. Gay, Mills and Airasian (2009) say that qualitative researchers should consider ethics before the research begins “to ensure that you will be prepared to respond in an ethical, caring manner if difficult situations arise” (p. 22).

Researchers need to discuss these possibilities with participants before seeking their consent to participate in the study. Because qualitative research can be more unpredictable than quantitative research, researchers must ensure that they continue an open and honest dialogue with their participants as the study progresses. The study should never be valued more than the welfare of the participants. This includes the avoidance of physical and emotional harm. In order to ensure that researchers adhere to certain ethical standards, they should submit their research proposal to a governing body such as UBC’s Behavioural Research Ethics Boards.

Researchers need to be fair in how they report data but at the same time protect confidentiality of the participants. Flinders (1992) suggests this may be more difficult in qualitative research due to its descriptive nature. I think participants should be informed of how they will be portrayed before research is published.

Reflect on how our individual and collective ideas about education research have evolved over the past thirteen weeks.

I’ve learned to look at all research with a critical eye no matter who conducted it or who published it. This includes looking at the research methods and at the logic of the study. The ability to think critically is a skill I want to share with my students because I think it is important for to have in life. Students should question authority and analyze information given to them instead of accepting it passively as truth.

Flinders, David J. (1992). In search of ethical guidance: constructing a basis for dialogue. Qualitative Studies in Education, 5(2), 101-115

Gay, L.R., Mills, G.E., & Airasian, P.W. (2009). Educational research: Competencies for analysis and application (9th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill Prentice Hall.