Skills for Learning: Research Skills

There are no easy answers to the ethical questions individual researchers might face. However, you must address these issues and explain how you will manage them.

Leeds Beckett University’s Research Governance and Practice at Leeds Beckett gives detailed information about our institution’s research procedures. These apply to all staff, undergraduate and postgraduate students conducting research. Read this carefully.

The Research Ethics Policy outlines fourteen principles that researchers should observe. The research should:

• Benefit society by adding to human knowledge
• Avoid or minimise harm
• Give consideration to issues around participation and consent
• Respect confidentiality and anonymity procedures
• Ensure that the research outcomes are disseminated appropriately

For research conducted for an academic award, there are likely to be specific ethics requirements. You may also have to comply with the requirements of an appropriate learned society recognised by your School. Be sure to check what types of approval are needed for your study programme.

The key issues that may raise ethical concerns include:

1. Relationships with research participants
2. Covert research
3. Anonymity, privacy and confidentiality

You should think carefully about how the following issues might affect your research:

• Your own values (i.e. beliefs or judgements arising from your life experiences).
• Your biographical details and how these relate to those of your participants.
• The power dynamics of the research process (i.e. the power you, the researcher, have to define the research agenda).
• The age and health of the participant(s) – care should be taken not to intrude on participants’ personal lives.
• Problems associated with covert research (i.e. the fairness of not telling participants you are undertaking research). This is particularly relevant when considering if you need to gain consent from participants.
• Personal and political interests. This relates to your own and those of any organisation supporting your research.
• The need to maintain the confidentiality and anonymity of participants.
• How your research will be used. Who will benefit from it?

You are expected to justify your approach to ethical issues in your written research report. For example, if you undertake covert research, you must give valid reasons for this.

Where people are involved in your research, you should:

• Provide them with information about what you are doing
• Obtain their consent to use the information they provide
• Record what they say accurately, without distorting the information they provide
• Ensure that no physical, psychological, social, political or economic harm results from the research
• Inform them who your supervisor is
• Offer them feedback
• Respect their privacy and anonymity
• Remember to thank them for their co-operation

Outside organisations

Your research may require the co-operation of organisations or individuals outside the University. How you handle these relationships is important for the success of your research. However, it’s also crucial for your reputation and that of the University.

If your research requires involvement from an outside individual/organisation, give them clear details about:

• Who you are and what you are doing
• What help you require
• What guarantees you can make concerning confidentiality and other relevant issues

Sometimes, an outside organisation or sponsor will hope to gain or benefit from the research.

Discuss any written or verbal promises with your supervisor.

Vulnerable participants and informed consent

Some research participants are regarded as vulnerable. In this case, you must give special consideration to protecting their rights. You must also think carefully about whether they are capable of giving ‘informed consent’. Examples of groups usually considered vulnerable include children, the elderly, people with learning difficulties, the terminally ill and people with mental illness.

Sometimes, another person will have authority to give consent on behalf of the vulnerable individual. In the case of children under the age of sixteen, consent from a parent or legal guardian is required. The child should also be informed about the research, however, in an age-appropriate way. Their willingness to participate should be confirmed. In some cases, participants may be approached to take part via an institution (e.g. a school or hospital). Here, the agreement and co-operation of the institution will also be required.