ETHICAL DILEMMAS IN CONDUCTING RESEARCH
Ethical Dilemma
a. A situation in which a difficult choice has to be
made between two courses of action, either of
which entails transgressing a moral principle
b. Are situations in which there is a choice to be
made between two options, neither of which
resolves the situation in an ethically acceptable
fashion
Ethical Principles
1. Right to protection from exploitation
 Researchers should not place participants at a
disadvantage or expose them to damages
2. Right to full disclosure
 Researchers have explained the research study
fully and have described the subjects right to
refuse participation and discussed risks and
benefits of participation
3. Right to fair treatment
 The equitable distribution of benefits and
burdens of research
 Participant selection should be based on the
study requirements and not a group’s
vulnerability
4. Right to Privacy
 Researchers should ensure that their research is
not more intrusive than it needs to be and the
participants’ privacy is maintained continuously
Procedures for Protecting Study Participants
1. Informed consent
 Gaining an informed consent means that
participants have adequate information about
research, comprehend that information and
have the ability to consent to or decline
participation
 Content of Informed Consent
a. Participant Status
 Prospective participants need to
understand the distinction between
research and treatment
 They should also be informed that data
they provide will be used for research
purposes
b. Study goals
 The overall goals of the research should
be stated, in lay rather than technical
terms. The specific use in which the
data will be put should be described
c. Type of data
 Prospective participants should be told
what type of data will be collected
d. Procedure
 Participants should be given a
description of the data collection
procedures and of procedures to be
used in any innovative treatment
e. Nature of the commitment
 Participants should be told the
expected time commitment at each
point of contact and the number of
contacts within a given time
f. Sponsorship
 Information on who is sponsoring or
funding the study should be noted. If
the research is part of an academic
requirement, this information should be
shared
g. Participant selection
 Prospective participants should be told
how they were selected for recruitment
and how many people will be
participating
h. Potential Risks [and Possible Benefits]
 Prospective participants should be
informed of any foreseeable risks
(physical, psychological, social, or
economic) or discomforts and efforts
that will be taken to minimize risks
 Specific benefits to participants, if any,
should be described, as well as possible
benefits to others
i. Possible Benefits
j. Alternatives
 Participants should be told about
alternative benefits or treatments that
might be advantageous to them
k. Compensation
 If stipend or reimbursements are to be
paid, or if treatments are offered
without a fee, these arrangements
should be discussed
l. Confidentiality [Pledge]
 Participants should be assured that
their privacy will at all times be
protected. If anonymity is agreed, this
should be stated
m. Voluntary consent
 Researchers should indicate that
participation is strictly voluntary and
that failure to volunteer will not result
in any penalty or loss of benefits
n. Right to withdraw and withhold information
 Prospective participants should be told
that after consenting, they have the
right to withdraw from the study or to
withhold any specific piece of
information
o. Contact information
 Researchers should tell the participants
whom they could contact in the event
of further questions, comments, or
complaints
Documentation of Informed Consent
a. Researchers usually document informed consent by
having participants sign a consent form
b. The consent form should contain all the information
essential to informed consent
c. Participants should have ample time to review the
document before signing it
d. The consent form should be signed by the
researcher and a copy should be retained by both
parties
 ETHICAL DILEMMAS IN CONDUCTING RESEARCH

Confidentiality Procedures seldom expect to benefits personally from

a. Anonymity
 The most secure means of protecting
confidentiality occurs when the researcher
cannot link participants to their data
b. Confidentiality in the absence of anonymity
 A promise of confidentiality is a pledge that any
information participants provide will not be
publicly reported in a manner that identifies
them, and will not be accessible to others
c. Certificates of Confidentiality
 It protects participants in the forced disclosure
of research data in the whole range of
situations
 Allows researchers to refuse to disclose
identifying information on study participants in
any civil, criminal, administrative, or proceeding
at the federal state or local level
Steps to Avoid Breach of Confidentiality
1. Obtain identifying information
2. Assign an identification (ID) number
3. Maintain identifying information in a locked file
4. Restrict access to identifying information to only a
few people on a need-to-know basis
5. Enter no identifying information as quickly as
practical
6. Make research personnel sign confidentiality
pledges
7. Report research information in aggregate
research
 Researchers must also take steps to ensure that
healthcare and comfort for these participants
are not compromised
 Special procedures may be done to obtain
consent if they are physically or mentally-
incapacitated
4. Institutionalized People
 They may feel pressure in participating because
they believe that treatment would be
jeopardized when failure to participate
 Researchers need to emphasize the voluntary
nature of participation
5. Pregnant Women
 Safeguarding the pregnant woman, who may be
at heightened physical and psychological risk,
and the fetus, who cannot give informed
consent.

Debriefing, Communication, and Referrals

a. Researchers can use format strategies to
communicate respect and concern for participants’
well-being like debriefing sessions after data
collection; it permits participants to ask questions
or air complaints
b. It is important when the data collection has been
stressful or when ethical guideline had to be bent

Treatment of Vulnerable Groups

1. Children
 Legally do not have the competence to give
informed consent, informed consent from the
parents or guardian should be obtained
 It is appropriate to obtain assent id the child is
at least seven years old
 If the child is mature enough (at least 12 years
old) to understand basic informed consent, a
written assent is available
2. Mentally or Emotionally Disabled
 Individuals whose disability make it impossible
for them to weigh risks and benefits or
participation by cognitive impairment, written
consent should be obtained by a legal guardian
 To the extent possible, informed consent or
written assent should be sought as a
supplement
3. The Terminally-Ill
 Risks/benefits of the study for terminally-ill
participants should be assessed since they