Ethical Issues in Undertaking Qualitative Research - Essay Example

? Ethical Issues in Undertaking Qualitative Research   Ethical Issues in Undertaking Qualitative Research Introduction The aim of this essay is to research on the ethical issues that arise during research, where in this case, study is on traffic accidents that occur due to driving while drunk. The paper entails the background information on topic under discussion, the ethical issues that one experiences during the collection of information and solution to these ethical issues as outlined by Dickson-Swift & Liamputtong (2008). The essay entails stating the ethical issues and giving the meaning of each. Further, the essay elaborates on how to address the ethical issues. This is by stating how the issues may affect the research, and thus addressing these ethical issues during research work. Background information Ethical issues are norms for conduct that make a distinction between unacceptable and acceptable behaviour. In the study, the ethical issues in consideration are; honesty in the collection of data, objectivity on the topic of research, integrity, carefulness in data collection, openness through sharing of results and ideas, respect for intellectual property, confidentiality to protect information not meant for outside people. Others include; responsible mentoring of the parties involved who may happen to be teenagers or adults who are the victim of accidents due to alcoholism, non discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, sex or competence issues as shown in the works of Noaks, & Wincup (2004). Ethics may also be legality of relevant laws and human subject’s protection. This is where the parties involved should not be subject to any harm both physical and mental rather maximising on the benefits. These ethical issues vary according to the subject under study. The ethical issues thus apply to the current area under study which is on the road carnage due to driving under the influence of alcohol. In relation to honesty, it entails reporting of data and results without bias this also applies to the method and procedures used and the publication status. This study according to Mohan (2006) would require questioning professionals who hold moral responsibility; thus a conflict of interest may arise due to the interests and values of different parties involved in the research work including the police and first hand witnesses and any information that is false would incriminate them. Objectivity on the topic research would ensure that the researcher does not cross the set bounds as seen in the study work of Harper & Thompson (2012). This would mean that the questions asked to the target parties are unnecessary, where a researcher could ask a police, why the police did not stop a driver who caused an accident from drunkenness, while it is clear that the police had no role in the drinking spree or the accident. Integrity would be crucial in the study to ensure that the information got from the interviewees does not fall in wrong hands. Researchers should not use incentives like money or other gifts to get information from victims or the target parties. The parties should feel free to share what they have on alcoholism and its effect during driving. Confidentiality is paramount to make sure that there is no incrimination of any party, where interviewees may give out information which is incriminating, but the interviewee does not want the information to leak out; the researcher should make sure that the information remains only within their scope according to Forrester (2010). Openness is vital to both the interviewer and the researcher where the researcher requires all the necessary information regarding road carnage as a result of drunken driving, while the interviewer requires that the researcher is what they claim to be and not someone who means harm. Responsible mentoring of the parties involved who including people from different age groups, socio-economic backgrounds and indigenous backgrounds this is by explaining to them the impacts of drunken driving by giving examples of consequences of drunken driving and encouraging the parties to avoid driving while driving and seek other services like taking a cab home. Researchers receive encouragement to use non-discriminative language; this arises through bias on the grounds of gender, race or ethnicity. Discrimination would imply that the information got from the parties is not precise and cannot be used to cub the issue of road carnage from drunk driving. Legality is also a vital ethic issue to take into consideration when conducting research especially where the matter under research affects a large group of people. According to the research work of Forrester (2010) legality implies that research should consort lawyers to know what the law dictates regarding research work. It is essential for researchers to give information which has grounds, where in the case under study, a researcher should seek information from the police to avoid contradiction of results such as the number of injuries and deaths as a result of drunken driving. Strategies to address ethical issues Honesty: Honesty is a self incentive that researchers can inculcate in them. They should report data, methods and procedures and results with the highest discretion. Honesty in doing research comes through professionalism, where researchers who have considerable professional traits and training are able to research and give a convincing research. The results in such a project like on road accident due to drinking and driving should be done with honesty, as the data may be necessary to develop strategies to cub road carnage (Buchanan, 2004). Honesty should also be seen in the interviewees, such that they provide information which is true and precise, this ethical issue can be addressed by giving stipulations to the interviewees that they can face charges by giving false information. Objectivity can be addressed by researchers by ensuring that they avoid bias in data analysis, analysis of data and experimental design. This is through formal training on various ways of doing research and by preparing adequately for the research project. Objectivity can also be achieved through the disclosure of financial and personal interests that may interfere with research. Doing a reconnaissance would enable researchers develop a clear objective on the research activity according to Harper & Thompson (2012). In this research entailing road accident, a researcher should first identify the prime spot where most accidents occur before settling in a place which will form the objectivity of the research. Researchers should also avoid self-deception, where they may think that they are doing the right thing while they have lost the objectivity of the research. Integrity can be addressed by first taking an integrity test for the researcher. This is by ensuring that they are able to keep promises, show sincerity and strive to ensure that they are consistent with what they think and their actions while in the field doing research. An integrity test would entail the researchers going feeling in a self extermination questionnaire on what themselves because integrity first starts within oneself. Interviewees are to show integrity whereby, they are to ensure that before giving any information, they have grounds to support what they say. Sincerity would play a vital role in addressing integrity as seen in the study work of Willis, Reynolds & Keleher (2009). The researchers should only gather information and data from sources they know of their integrity. Carefulness and openness are fundamental ethical issues. This is by ensuring that researchers have enough knowledge on the research question to avoid negligence and errors during the actual research. This would also be addressed by carefully examining their work and the work of their peer to ensure that the information and data collected matches to ensure consistency. Carefulness would also entail exemplary record keeping on the activities during research for easy referencing they include correspondence with agencies, data collection and research design (Harper & Thompson, 2012). Doing a pre visit would give researchers able time to prepare data sheets, questionnaires and make a research design thus reducing errors during the actual study. Openness would entail sharing of information and data collected while listening to legitimate criticism and borrowing new ideas from the peers. Respect for intellectual property is a leading ethic issue that need addressing; this would be by ensuring that, as a researcher, the patents get honour including copyrights, because such a research may be recurrent since it is a common occurrence. To ensure respect for intellectual property, follow up on earlier research should be done to ensure originality in doing their research. According to the works of Tanner (2008) researchers are not to use data which is unpublished and results without getting permission from the owners. The research work should have credit where credit is to be given, and proper acknowledgement for all the contributions done on the topic since they are crucial to ensure respect for other peoples research work. Confidentiality is to be addressed by withholding private information of the interviewee’s if that is their wish. Researchers should protect communications which are confidential, this information include papers submitted for publication, records from personnel like accident statistics from the traffic police department as it can only be held by the police. Researchers have no right to give out patient records if the information in the medical records, acted as part of the research information (Marshall, 2007). This is considering that the research work relates to accident victims. Confidential information should be put in a password protected locker ups, where only the researcher can retrieve and discard the information properly after use to avoid the information getting in the wrong hands. The information under publication should also be anonymous to avoid victimisation unless the owner of the information dictates otherwise. Rules should be set by the authorities, ensuring that anyone who goes against the will of the interviewees faces injunction from doing their research work. This ensures that confidentiality is at top level. Responsible publication and mentoring; researchers should also be excellent mentors where in such a research activity, the interviewee may be youths who fall prey to drinking and driving, thus to ensure that the researchers mentor the people who come to listen to the presentation. Attending mentorship classes would play a vital role in ensuring that one becomes a convincing mentor. Use of pictorial illustration would play a crucial role in passing on the message of drunken driving and its effects in regard to the works of Mertens & Ginsberg (2009). Researchers should also publish information that will advance scholarships and research by other interested parties and not just for personal gains, duplicative and wasteful publication should not occur. Social responsibility is a leading ethic issue to be addressed, whereby the researchers should make it their role to promote social strong will and mitigate social ills. This is through public advocacy and public education in consideration, in the research work under scrutiny. During interviews, the researcher should be able to tackle the social issues that occur due to drunkenness and drunken driving and their effect on the entire society (Forrester, 2010). Giving words of advice and consoling those who have been victims of accidents as a result of drunken driving, would show social responsibility, which is a, key ethical issue. Competence would be through maintenance and improvement of the professional competence of researchers and their expertise as seen in the works of Buchanan (2004). This ethic issue would entail lifelong learning and education by researchers to be able to understand the required scope of research work, such that their work can be used by learners, experts and researchers to be able to change a certain vice like road carnage in this case study. It is crucial during the study to ensure that human subjects have protection as harming the subject would imply legal consequences. This should be through human dignity respect, autonomy and ensuring individual secrecy. This is by only asking questions which relate to the topic of discussion. Putting pressure to the subject to give information would amount to harming the human subjects. Researchers should get information from correspondents who are willing to give information regarding the research topic. Conclusion In research that requires accurate and rational information, it is essential to demonstrate research ethics, thus in research on road carnage as a result of drunken driving, there was a demonstration of ethics. This is clear because the research was successful, and it was remaining representation to an audience. From the essay, various ethical issues are under scrutiny, in research work; the ethical issues under discussion including integrity, confidentiality and respect of intellectual property are to be given more focus because going against them may have legal consequences as seen in the study works of Marshall (2007). The essay clearly states the ethical issues during research, explains what each of the ethics entail and discusses how to address each of the ethical issues. References Barraclough, S., & Gardner, H. (2008). Analysing health policy: a problem-oriented approach. Sydney, Churchill Livingstone/Elsevier. Britt, H. (2011). 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