Ethical Concerns (Informed Consent) By MaryKate O’Connor

As you plan… “ It is important that you take care to be respectful of your study’s participants” (Falk, 2005). When planning your research, it is crucial to inform all participants involved of your intentions and the purpose of your inquiry before you begin to allow you to study them.

Reasons for Consent All participants need to be informed of the studies purpose and if there is any potential short term and/or long term harm or risk. “ This concern is greatest in experimental studies, during which a potentially harmful or helpful intervention or treatment may be applied to or withheld from one group and not another” (70).

Reason (cont.) Privacy- you must first check to make sure that participants are okay with you taking pictures, work samples, videos, etc. Using pseudonyms might not be enough privacy for some people. Representation- “ Some people may be wary of how they will be perceived or represented by you, the researcher” (70). Strictly voluntary- If participants chose to decline from the study, researchers need to let them know that is okay and they will not be penalized.

Minimize Harm Especially when dealing with human research subjects, it is important to tell all participants about all aspects of the research that might change their decision to continue and participate. Unfortunately, that was not the case in the Tuskegee Syphilis Study. “The investigators took advantage of the deprived socioeconomic situation in which the participants had experienced low levels of care (Heintzelman, 2003).

Types Direct: Person is present Substitute: 3 rd person. If the person has a legal guardian, you need a substitute (Schillinger, ppt) Be sure to record and keep all information in writing and put it in a safe place. “To protect yourself in litigation, it is important that the communications process itself be documented. Good documentation can serve as evidence in a court of law that the process indeed took place” (

Elements If an individual has the ability to understand, evaluate, and make a decision or whether to participate or not, they may be a participant (Schillinger, ppt) You must 18 or older or a emancipated minor The information the researchers provide must be completed and understood by all members.

Consent forms A wonderful sample of a consent form is included in our textbook, The Power of Questions on page 72. It includes the purpose for the study, the procedures, the researchers intentions throughout the study, potential risks or benefits, and reassurance that all identifiable information will be removed or change to ensure the students privacy. It also includes a written signature for the parents to sign of on for proof of consent.

Most Important Thing When in doubt, just ask for permission!!