Kath,
My initial thought was that your arguments seemed very sensible but then I
wondered, what would happen if when you write up your findings some of
theose people you interviewed turned around and said "You never said that
was going to be used in research, I thought we were just chatting"?
best wishes,
Alan Simpson
also researching in the health services and frequently submitting to ethics
committees...
>From: Kath Checkland <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: qual-software <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Ethics and informed consent
>Date: Thu, 16 Oct 2003 22:39:38 +0100
>
>As a researcher (and medic) doing qualitative research with doctors and
>managers in the NHS, I am required to obtain ethical approval from the
>local
>research ethics committee. May observations (as both a member of such a
>committee and as someone submitting to the committee) are as follows:
>1. Few people on LRECs have the faintest clue about qualitative research.
>One reply to my submission suggested that there was a danger that my
>protocol would prevent me from being sufficiently "objective". When I spoke
>to them and tried to discuss the theoretical justification for my project,
>I
>might have been talking a different language.
>2. I am dubious about the idea of asking participants to sign a declaration
>for many reasons. As others have said, there will be participants for whom
>that is impossible. In my own research, I am researching powerful people -
>it seems to be the nanny state gone mad to suggest that they are not
>capable
>of saying "no" when I ask them if I can interview them. I think that we
>should treat our participants as intelligent human beings, make it clear to
>them that they do not have to participate and agree without question if
>they
>at any time withdraw that consent. After that, if they agree to talk to me
>I
>think it is reasonable to assume that they have consented without making
>them sign a piece of paper to that effect. It is different, of course if
>you
>are dealing with vulnerable people, or those with a limited grasp of
>language or cultural norms, but it is important not to draw up blanket
>rules
>that cannot possibly cover all eventualities.
>Kath Checkland
>GP and PhD student, Manchester University
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Rowland Atkinson" <[log in to unmask]>
>To: <[log in to unmask]>
>Sent: 15 October 2003 16:21
>Subject: Ethics and informed consent
>
>
> > Dear All
> >
> > I think Im pushing the boundaries of the use of this list but we are
>going
> > through a process of introducing ethical approval forms which require
>that
> > ALL students provide a form to which respondents would sign their name
> > showing they understood that they had the right to refuse, withdraw and
>that
> > the work would be confidential and so on. My question is really, how do
> > other people work ethical approval and undergrad and postgrad levels?
> >
> > Im rather cynical of the process for two reasons. 1. Having the protocol
>in
> > place does not ensure that any of the subsequent steps are taken on
>board.
> > 2. For many projects this is neither necessary and may be directly
> > prejudicial to getting data from particular social groups. Here Im
>thinking
> > of social elites generally. I think to myself, would I sign something
>that
>a
> > student would then take away. Shouldn't we allow some groups to fade in
>and
> > out in ways which they decide for themselves. I suppose there is also
>the
> > possibility that people 'dont mind' being named (Underground by Harukumi
>for
> > example) but I guess most researchers wouldnt 'want' to name respondents
> > anyway. Small can of worms to chew on...
> >
> > thanks
> >
> > Rowland
> >
> > <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
> >
> > Dr Rowland Atkinson
> > Department of Urban Studies
> > University of Glasgow
> > 25 Bute Gardens
> > Glasgow
> > G12 8RS
> >
> > T: 0141 330 3502/5048
> > F: 0141 330 4983
> > E: [log in to unmask]
> >
> > http://www.gla.ac.uk/urbanstudies/index.html
> > http://www.neighbourhoodcentre.org.uk/
> >
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