Action Research Ethical Issues

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Action Research Ethical Issues

• CARN Study Day
• Liverpool Hope University
• May 2005

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What is research?

• A way of finding things out
• Finding out how to do things better
• Finding out why we do things the way we do
• Gaining an understanding of how things work or
  happen
• Challenging our assumptions

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Action Research

• Impacting our practice
• Reviewing our practice
• Justifying our practice
• Amending our practice
• Improving our practice
• Sharing best practice

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Research Ethics

• Carrying out research in a morally responsible
  way
• Not disadvantaging anyone by the research
• Respecting others opinions and rights
• Working within an ethical code
• Seeking permission/access

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Ethics
principle
honest
right
moral
proper
honourable
fair
decent
legal
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Hippocratic Oath
- the foundation for medical ethics
first do no harm
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Data Protection Act 1998
This gives priority to personal privacy and
protection of personal information.
Anyone who wants to collect personal data must
say how the information will be used, who will
have access to it, and that it will not be
stored or shared any longer than necessary.
(This also relies upon the integrity of
the researcher)
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The Integrity of the Researcher

• Personal / professional ethics
• Personal / professional responsibility

• Professional code of conduct will require
• adherence to ethical guidelines and
• principles.
• Ethics committee

• Personal responsibility to be honest
• 
  throughout.

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• The Power Imbalance

• Unethical to
• suppress data or skew findings.

• video or photograph without consent.

• breach confidentiality.

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There are some grey areas though...
Ethnography - capturing behaviour when people do
not feel they are being observed.
Participation or exploitation?
Covert or overt observation? Non-participant or
participant observer?
A participant could be wielding influence A
non-participant could be projecting /
offering own viewpoint...
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Both would argue they were being academically
rigorous and ethically sensitive.
Personal integrity is crucial - and
acknowledge possible bias or influence
in findings.
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Ethical Guidelines
Respect participants. Seek permission / informed
consent Explanation from researcher as to nature
and purpose of research. Recorded personal data
will be destroyed as soon as appropriate.
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Ethical Guidelines
Responsibility to participant where project
involves sensitive personal disclosure. Maintain
ing confidentiality. Always be aware that
individuals have a right to access information
organisations may be keeping on them.
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Those who contribute to research findings as
informants or as research subjects, should be no
worse off at the end of their participation than
they were when they started. Denscombe, M.
(2003) The Good Research Guide O.U.
Press
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What are the narrative constructs of bereaved
parents?
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Methodology

• Qualitative research- looking in-depth at what
  happens and gathering opinions and
  interpretations (narrative)
• Quantitative research measuring, categorising,
  drawing conclusions, making causal links
  (numerical)

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Spirituality 8
Severance 14
Connectedness 78
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Some considerations

• Relationship of researcher to participants
• Prior relationship
• 3. Assumptions
• 4. Influence

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Further considerations

• Control group interviewed by a stranger
• Original participants interviewed by a
• stranger
• External supervision
• Triangulation
• Integrity of the researcher

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I only want what is in your mind
and in your heart
David Tasma 1947
Ill be a window in your home
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Research offers the world a window onto our
practice
Action research flings the windows open
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