Ethics in qualitative research

Just like in many forms of quantitative research, there are many ethical dilemmas that you may encounter in qualitative research. This post will start by talking about some different ethical positions before discussing these ethical dilemmas.

Traditional ethical positions

Two of the most commonly-seen traditional ethical positions are utilitarianism and principlism. Utilitarianism, or utilitarian consequentialism, emphasises consequences over intent and aims to choose the action that produces the greatest good for the greatest number of individuals. Principlism, or the duty ethics of principles, judges actions by their intent, rather than by their consequences.

Alternative ethical positions

Virtue ethics

Virtue ethics considers ethical behaviour to be contextual or situational. It emphasises the role of phronesis, or cultivated practical wisdom. In virtue ethics, the researcher's own moral values and skills are emphasised.

Feminist ethics

Feminist ethics, as the name implies, focuses on feminist-informed social values. It emphasises care and responsibility, and the need to expose the diversity of realities. Research informed by feminist ethics aims to be collaborative and participatory.

Culturally responsive relational reflexive ethics (CRRRE)

CRRRE emphasises the need for flexibility as researchers cannot fully understand the perspectives of other cultures. It attempts to understand and affirm other cultures by valuing the dignity, mutual respect and connectedness within and between cultures.

Ethical dilemmas in qualitative research

Informed consent

As qualitative research can be open-ended and a researcher's direction may change somewhat based on new information, it is important to have an ongoing process of construction and negotiation, rather than simply a one-off informed consent form.

Anonymity and confidentiality

It may be difficult or impossible to give absolute confidentiality, especially since details may unintentionally reveal a participant's identity or provide a mistaken identity. Also, some participants may prefer to be named, depending on the research.

Research as therapy

Some participants may find it therapeutic to talk about their experiences. However, it is very important to set boundaries, and clarify the purposes and role of the researcher as compared to therapists. If you are dealing with a sensitive topic, it may be a good idea to make a list of other support services that you can refer to, should the need arise.

The Internet

Internet research has ethical dilemmas of its own. For instance, if you are looking at message boards, blogs, and the like, you may need to think about the need for informed consent from message board users, and so on. You may also need to pay attention to copyright laws. For more information, check out the ethical guidelines from the Association of Internet Researchers.

Protecting the researcher

The researcher may need support and debriefing themselves, especially if they are researching a difficult or sensitive topic.

References

Sparkes, AC & Smith, B 2013, Qualitative Research Methods in Sport, Exercise and Health: From Process to Product, Taylor & Francis Ltd, London.