Ethics Guidelines for Data Collection
Business Programmes
Any Management Research Project that requires data collection from or about human subjects for the purpose of research is subject to the Laureate Ethics process validated by the University of Continental. All University of Continental online students completing a research project must follow the ethical parameters outlined in these guidelines, which have been prepared by the Laureate Office of Research Ethics and Compliance's International Online Research Ethics Committee (IOREC).
COLLECTING DATA
- Ethical Parameters (DO)
? Students can analyse existing data from participants (e.g. employees).
? Students can examine organisational documents, work products, reports, and any other existing data.
? Students must take appropriate steps to adhere to any confidentiality requirements of the organisation and protect proprietary information. Students should obtain written permission from an appropriate leader in the organisation prior to accessing existing data, documents, or other organisational information.
? Students must store project data in electronic format (e.g., Word, Excel, SPSS, Nvivo, etc.) for the duration of their research project and then dispose of the data at the time final grades are assigned.
? Students must de-identify the data as soon as is realistically possible to minimise risk of inappropriate disclosure of personal information. De-identification consists of removing all direct identifiers such as names, addresses, or telephone numbers from the raw data and database.
- Unethical Parameters (DO NOT)
? Students must take precautions to not disclose to anyone else any part of the data that is linkable to a participant's identity.
SURVEYING/INTERVIEWING
- Ethical Parameters (DO)
? Students may interview adults as long as the adults are not subordinates.
? Students must store project data in electronic format (e.g., Word, Excel, SPSS, Nvivo, etc.) for the duration of their research project and then dispose of the data at the time final grades are assigned.
? Students must de-identify the data as soon as is realistically possible to minimize risk of inappropriate disclosure of personal information. De-identification consists of removing all direct identifiers such as names, addresses, or telephone numbers from the raw data and database.
- Unethical Parameters (DO NOT)
? Students cannot interview their subordinates (people whom they supervise).
? When students make a recording as part of data collection, they cannot share recordings of participants' "raw data" with their online classmates.
? Students must take precautions to not disclose to anyone else any part of the data that is linkable to a participant's identity.
CONDUCTING OBSERVATIONS/TAKING FIELD NOTES
- Ethical Parameters (DO)
? Students can collect observation and field notes but only if observations do not disrupt the participant's professional responsibilities.
? Students should keep all notes general (without any names).
? Students must comply with the site's policies on workplace conduct and obtain any permissions that are needed.
? Students must store their project data in electronic format (e.g., Word, Excel, SPSS, Nvivo, etc.) for the duration of their research project and then dispose of the data at the time final grades are assigned.
- Unethical Parameters (DO NOT)
? Students must take precautions to not disclose to anyone else any part of the data that is linkable to a participant's identity.TIPS FOR COMPLETING PARTICIPANT FACING DOCUMENTATION
(E.g. Participant Consent Form, Debriefing Form, Questionnaire, Posters)
Project Details
- The project title should be consistent across all documentation.
- The Brief Description of the Project should contain brief information on what will be involved, e.g. number of participants, how and where the research will be conducted, interviews, timings and that interviews will be audio recorded (if applicable). This is to ensure that a participant knows what participation involves, so that they can give informed consent
Information for Participants
- You should include information on the participants' right to withdraw without giving a reason and how a participant would do this (e.g. via use of an ID number which appears on the Debriefing Form). The implications of withdrawal should also be explained in the consent statement (e.g. that data in an aggregate form may still be used/ published).
- Headings should clearly refer to either the researcher or participant.(‘I' should not be used ambiguously in the participant-facing documentation)
- The participant facing documentation should refer to the investigator's willingness to discuss any concerns that may arise as a result of participation, and details of who a participant should contact if they feel any physical or emotional discomfort (e.g. GP, support groups etc)
- Payment of expenses to participants (e.g. vouchers) should be referred to as reimbursement or similar, rather than as ‘a payment'
Presentation
- The Consent Form should follow the proforma on the page above including the University logo, title, description of project, full contact details of investigator and programme director, and independent party.
- TheUniversity logo and contact details should be presented in a consistent manner on all documentation. The contact name and full address of the appropriate department should be given followed by a University email address and telephone number.
- All documents that are more than one page in length should have page numbers
- All participant-facing documentation should have been proof-read for typos, the text should be formatted consistently in style and size and track changes should have been removed
1. Are participant recruitment and data collection adequately described, such that the study's risks and burdens can be discerned?
2. Will the research procedures ensure during data collection?
3. Will data be stored securely with adequate provisions to maintain the confidentiality of the data?
4. Will the data be stored for at least 5 years?
5. If participants' names or contact info will be recorded in the research records, are they absolutely necessary
6. Do the research procedures and analysis/write-up plans include all possible measures to ensure that participant identities are not directly or indirectly disclosed? For secondary data analyses, the proposal must clearly state when/how de-identification will occur.
7. Have all potential psychological , relationship , legal , economic/professional , physical , and other risks been fully acknowledged and described?
8. Have the above risks been minimized as much as possible?
9. Has the researcher proactively managed any potential conflicts of interest ?Note that student researchers may notutilise research assistants to recruit participants or collect research data on behalf of the researcher.
10. Are the research risks and burden reasonable, in consideration of the new knowledge that this research design can offer?
11. Is the research site willing to provide an Authorisation Letter (or email) granting permission granting for all relevant data access, access to participants, facility use, and/or use of personnel time for research purposes?
12. Applicable for student researchers: Will this researcher be appropriately qualified and supervised in all data collection procedures?
13. Is participant recruitment coordinated in a manner that is non-coercive? Coercive elements include: leveraging an existing relationship to "encourage" participation, recruiting in a group setting, extravagant compensation, recruiting individuals in a context of their treatment or evaluation etc. A researcher must disclose here whether/how the researcher may already be known to the participants and explain how perceptions of coerced research participation will be minimzed.
14. If anyone would be excluded from participating, is their exclusion justified? Is their exclusion handled respectfully and withoutstiqma
15. Where the researcher proposes to use an interpreter, has adequate consideration been given to the interpreter's training regarding confidentiality and principles of informed consent, etc.?
16. Do the f informed consent procedures provide adequate time to review the study information and ask questions before giving consent?
17. Will informed consent be appropriatelydocumented?
18. Is the participant information sheet (PIS) written using language that will be understandable to the potential participants?
19. Does the PIS include an understandable explanation of the research purpose?
20. Does the PIS explainthe sample's inclusion criteria in such a way that the participants can understand how/why THEY are being asked to participate?
21. Does the PIS clearly state that participation is voluntary?
22. Does the PIS convey that the participant has the rightto decline or discontinue participation at any time?
23. Does the PIS include an understandable description of the data collection procedures?
24. Does the PIS include an estimate of the time commitmentfor participation?
25. Does the PIS describe any thank you gifts, compensation, or reimbursement to participants (for travel costs, etc.) or lack thereof?
26. Does the PIS include a description of reasonably foreseeable risks or discomforts?
27. Does the PIS include a description of anticipated benefits topartcipaintsand/or others?
28. Does the PIS explain how the participant can contact the researcher and the university's Research Participant Advocate? or email address.
29. Does the PIS describe how privacy will be be maintained?
30. Does the PIS disclose all potential conflicts of interest (specifying that this study is separate from the researcher's other professional role)?
31. Do the consent documents preserve the participant'sss legalrights?
32. If vulnerable individuals will be specifically sought out as participants, is such targeted recruitment justifiedby a research design that will specifically benefit that vulnerable group at large?
33. If the researcher happens to also serve in a trusted oror authoritative role to the participant (e.g., health care provider, teacher etc.), do the recruitment procedures ensure voluntary participation?
34. If the research procedures might reveal or create an acute psychological state that necessitates referral, are there suitable procedures in place to manage this?
35. If the research procedures might reveal criminal activity, child/elder abuse, or employer policy non-compliance that necessitates reporting, are there suitable procedures in place for managing this? Are limits to confidentiality (i.e., duty to report) appropriately mentioned in the Participant Information Sheet?
Attachment:- ETHICS RESPONSE.rar