Field Studies and CrossCultural Research

1
Field Studies and Cross-Cultural Research

• Marjorie A. Speers, Ph.D.
• Workshop on Human Research Protection in the
  Behavioral Sciences
• May 29, 2002

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The Belmont Report

• Respect for persons
• Individuals to be treated as autonomous agents
• Persons with diminished autonomy are entitled to
  protection
• Beneficence
• Efforts to secure participants well being
• Applies to individuals and society at large
• Justice
• Fairness in distribution
• Exploitation

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Common Rule

• Subpart A, 45 CFR 46.111(b)
• Applies to research conducted outside of the
  United States
• There are no regulatory requirements specific to
  conducting international research (except
  regarding assurances)
• There are no regulatory requirements specific to
  conducting cross-cultural research within the
  U.S. (except for language used in consent
  process)

4
Other Countries

• Almost no other countries have regulatory
  requirements governing research
• Few countries include the behavioral sciences as
  covered research
• Most countries follow the Declaration of Helsinki
  

5
Complying with U. S. regulations

• Assurances of compliance are required for local
  collaborating institutions that are engaged in
  the research
• Composition of ethics committee and review
• Informed consent process and documentation
• Undue influence
• Exploitation

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Informed consent

• Focus on individual no attention to community or
  tribal leaders
• Elements of disclosure
• Some terms have little or no meaning
• Research, experiment
• Benefits
• Voluntary participation
• Documentation
• Signed, written document
• Literacy of study population
• Translation of consent document

7
Undue influence

• When there is an economic disparity
• Research may have benefits that are not available
  otherwise
• Participants might think there are benefits when
  there are none

8
Exploitation

• Address an issue or need relevant to the
  community in which the research is conducted
• Results of research will benefit the local
  community

9
Summary

• Can be some of the most challenging research
• Important to conduct such research
• Must pay attention local norms, customs, and laws