Health and Psychology
From
the field. Consideration of research on Internet: guidelines and
implications for human movement studies. (includes
abstract) Szabo A; Clinical
Kinesiology: Journal of the American Kinesiotherapy
Association, 1996 Fall; 50 (3): 58-65 (journal article) CINAHL AN: 1997035460
This article
elaborates on the idea of
considering the research potentials on the Internet in the area of Human Movement Studies. The discussion is
generally focused on the type of
data collectable via Internet research, the method of investigation,
and the possible advantages and disadvantages of research on the Internet. Finally, some ethical
guidelines are presented in line with the guidelines established for research with human subjects by the
American Psychological Association. It is concluded that the Internet is a tantalizing place to
conduct certain forms of research in
general as well as specific research
in some areas of Human Movement Studies.
Psychological
Research Online: Report of Board of
Scientific Affairs' Advisory Group on the Conduct of Research on the Internet.. By: Kraut, Robert; Olson, Judith; Banaji, Mahzarin; Bruckman, Amy; Cohen, Jeffrey; Couper,
Mick. American Psychologist, Feb/Mar2004, Vol. 59 Issue 2, p105-117, 13p; DOI:
10.1037/0003-066X.59.2.105; (AN 12464222)
As the Internet has changed communication, commerce, and the
distribution of information, so too it is changing psychological research. Psychologists can observe new or rare
phenomena online and can do research on traditional psychological topics more efficiently,
enabling them to expand the scale and scope of their research. Yet these opportunities entail risk both to research quality and to human subjects.
Internet research is inherently no
more risky than traditional observational, survey, or experimental methods. Yet
the risks and safeguards against them will differ from those characterizing
traditional research and will themselves change over time. This article describes some
benefits and challenges of conducting psychological
research via the Internet and offers
recommendations to both researchers and institutional review boards for dealing
with them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Ethical problems inherent in
psychological research based on internet communication as stored information.
Theor Med Bioeth. 2007;28(3):221-41.
PMID: 17690996 [PubMed
- indexed for MEDLINE]
This paper
deals with certain ethical problems inherent in psychological research based on
internet communication as stored information. Section 1 contains an analysis of
research on Internet debates. In particular, it takes into account a famous
example of deception for psychology research purposes. In section 2, the focus
is on research on personal data in texts published on the Internet. Section 3
includes an attempt to formulate some ethical principles and guidelines, which
should be regarded as fundamental in research on stored information.
Ethics
Behav. 2003;13(1):45-60.
Internet research: an opportunity to
revisit classic ethical problems in behavioral research.
The Internet
offers many new opportunities for behavioral researchers to conduct
quantitative and qualitative research. Although the ethical guidelines of the
American Psychological Association generalize, in part, to research conducted
through the Internet, several matters related to
Internet research require further analysis. This article reviews several
fundamental ethical issues related to Internet research, namely the
preservation of privacy, the issuance of informed consent, the use of deception
and false feedback, and research methods. In essence, the Internet offers
unique challenges to behavioral researchers. Among these are
the need to better define the distinction between private and public
behavior performed through the Internet, ensure mechanisms for obtaining valid
informed consent from participants and performing debriefing exercises, and
verify the validity of data collected through the Internet.
Annu Rev Psychol. 2006;57:529-55.
The internet as psychological
laboratory.
This chapter
reviews studies published in American Psychological Association (APA) journals
from 2003-2004 and additional studies (received in response to listserv
requests) that used the Internet to collect data (N=121 total studies).
Specific examples of three kinds of Web-based research are reviewed: (a)
translational (established methods and research questions are adapted to the
Web), (b) phenomenological (behavior on the Web is the focus of study), and (c)
novel (methodologically innovations unique to Web-based research). Among other
findings, our review indicated that 21% of APA journals published at least one
article that reported on Web-based research, most Web-based psychological
research uses experimental methods, a surprising number use college student
samples, and deception in Web-based research is not uncommon. Strengths and
weaknesses of Web-based psychological research in general, and our sample of
studies in particular, are reviewed with special attention to possible concerns
about sampling and the use of deception.
The emerging
relationship of psychology and the Internet: proposed guidelines for conducting
Internet intervention research. (eng;
includes abstract) By Childress CA, Ethics & Behavior [Ethics Behav], 1998; Vol. 8 (1), pp. 19-35; PMID: 11655352
The Internet is rapidly developing into an
important medium of communication in modern society, and both psychological research and therapeutic interventions
are being increasingly conducted using this new communication medium. As
therapeutic interventions using the Internet
are becoming more prevalent, it is becoming increasingly important to conduct research on psychotherapeutic Internet interventions to assist in the
development of an appropriate standard of practice regarding interventions
using this new medium. In this article, we examine the Internet and the current psychological uses which are being
initiated using this medium. Ethical concerns related to the psychological use
of the Internet are discussed, and
guidelines are proposed for the conduct of Internet
intervention research.
Chiasson MA, Parsons JT, Tesoriero JM, Carballo-Dieguez A,
Hirshfield S, Remien RH.
HIV behavioral research online.
J Urban Health. 2006 Jan;83(1):73-85. Review.
PMID: 16736356 [PubMed
- indexed for MEDLINE]
Internet
access has caused a global revolution in the way people of all ages and genders
interact. Many have turned to the Internet to seek love, companionship, and
sex, prompting researchers to move behavioral studies online. The sexual
behavior of men who have sex with men (MSM) has been more closely studied than
that of any other group online given the abundance of gay-oriented websites and
concerns about increasing transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted
infections. Not only does the Internet provide a new medium for the conduct of
behavioral research and for participant recruitment into an array of research
studies, it has the as yet unrealized potential to reach huge numbers of MSM
with innovative harm reduction and prevention messages tailored to
individualized needs, interests, and risk behavior. Internet-based research on
sexual behavior has many advantages in rapidity of recruitment of diverse
samples which include individuals unreachable through conventional methods
(i.e., non-gay identified and geographically and socially isolated MSM, etc.).
Internet-based research also presents some new methodologic
challenges in study design, participant recruitment, survey implementation, and
interpretation of results. In addition, there are ethical issues unique to
online research including difficulties in verifying informed consent, obstacles
to surveying minors, and the ability to assure anonymity. This paper presents a
review of Internet-based research on sexual behavior in MSM, a general
discussion of the methodologic and ethical challenges
of Internet-based research, and recommendations for future interdisciplinary
research.
Policing of information from internet
breast cancer list: "list mining" raises new issues in research
ethics.
BMJ. 2006 May 6;332(7549):1095. No abstract
available.
PMID: 16675828 [PubMed
- indexed for MEDLINE]
NO ABSTRACT
Methodological and
ethical issues in Internet-mediated research in the field of health: an
integrated review of the literature. (includes
abstract) Whitehead LC; Social Science & Medicine, 2007 Aug; 65 (4): 782-91
(journal article) CINAHL AN: 2009660094
The advantages
and disadvantages of using the Internet
in both qualitative and quantitative researches in the field of health are readily available in the literature, but little
examination has been made of the factors to be considered in developing and
running Internet-mediated research. A bibliographic search of English language publications
indexed in eight computerized databases (EBSCO, EMBASE, MedLine,
PsycInfo, CINAHL, PubMed,
Cochrane, and TRIP) was undertaken with no limit set for the data of
publication. The keywords Internet, research, quality, credibility,
reliability, and validity were used in all possible combinations, and mappings
to headings made wherever possible. The search revealed three key areas in
setting up and undertaking Internet-mediated research: addressing sampling biases, ensuring ethical practice, and exploring the validity of data collected
using an online interface. This paper contributes to the ongoing development of
quality standards in the conduct and write-up of Internet-mediated research in the field of health.
Ethical
Issues in Conducting Sex Research on the Internet. By: Binik, Yitzchak M.; Mah, Kenneth;
Kiesler, Sara. Journal of Sex Research, Feb99, Vol.
36 Issue 1, p82-90, 9p; (AN 1642759)
This article
examines the ethical issues in conducting sex research on the Internet.
The growth and popularity of personal Internet
services allow for novel investigations of sexuality at home, in the absence of
physical presence and under conditions of relative anonymity. By making use of
existing or experimental on-line sex therapists and sexual self-help or
entertainment groups researchers can study topics such as interpersonal
attraction, flirting, sexual language sexual self-help, sexual writing, role playing and therapeutic relationships. Sexologists
interested in the use and effects of sexual images are hard pressed to find a
better research environment than the
Internet. Researchers can present
sexual stimuli on the Web, run interactive virtual experiments, or study
people's access to existing sexual material, even recording responses using
automated psychophysiological measures that connect
participants with a central laboratory through the Internet. Sex researchers have begun to use the Internet to recruit participants who
otherwise may be difficult to recruit locally.
Baker, D, Author, Reprint Author Baker
Darren Baker, Darren
Research, ethics and the internet
PSYCHOLOGIST 20 (8): 473-473 AUG
2007
NO ABSTRACT
Nosek, B. A., et. al., E-research: ethics, security, design, and control in
psychological research on the Internet. The Journal of Social Issues
v. 58 no. 1 (Spring 2002) p. 161-76
Differences
between traditional laboratory research
and Internet-based research require a review of basic
issues of research methodology.
These differences have implications for research
ethics (e.g., absence of researcher,
potential exposure of confidential data and/or identity to a third party,
guaranteed debriefing) and security (e.g., confidentiality and anonymity,
security of data transmission, security of data storage, and tracking
participants over time). We also review basic design issues a researcher should
consider before implementing an Internet
study, including the problem of participant self-selection and loss of
experimental control on the Internet
laboratory. An additional challenge for Internet-based
research is the increased
opportunity for participant misbehavior, intentional or otherwise. We discuss
methods to detect and minimize these threats to the validity of Internet-based research. Reprinted by permission of the
publisher.
Riggle, E. D. B., et. al., Online Surveys for BGLT Research: Issues and Techniques.
Journal of Homosexuality v. 49 no. 2 (2005) p. 1-21
Online surveys are becoming increasingly
popular for accessing less visible and decentralized populations, including
bisexual, gay, lesbian and transgender (BGLT) populations. Advances in
technology and convenience for the both the researcher and the participant have
facilitated this trend. In this paper, we explore issues related to conducting
BGLT survey research online, such as making decisions about
survey formats, target populations and recruitment, compensation, access, and privacy. We also discuss technical
issues related to online surveys and
their implications for confidentiality and informed consent. Reprinted
by permission of the publisher.
Ethical
issues in the documentary data analysis of Internet posts and archives.
(eng; includes abstract) By Sixsmith
J, Qualitative Health Research [Qual Health Res],
2001 May; Vol. 11 (3), pp. 423-32; PMID: 11339083
The documentary
analysis of e-mail posts and archives for qualitative research has been outlined elsewhere. Although there is an increase
in the number of studies being conducted on listserv and newsgroup material in
health research, this has not always
been accompanied by a careful, in-depth consideration of the concomitant
ethical issues. Therefore, this article outlines the ethical considerations
surrounding this form of research,
including issues of accessing voices, consent, privacy, anonymity,
interpretation, and ownership and authorship of research material.
Human subjects
issues in Internet research. (eng) By Cohen JM, Health Law News. University
Of Houston. Health Law And Policy Institute
[Health Law News], 2000 Jun; Vol. 13 (3), pp. 5, 14; PMID: 12542043
NO ABSTRACT
Doing
synchronous online focus groups with young people: methodological reflections.
(eng; includes abstract) By Fox FE, Qualitative Health
Research [Qual Health Res], 2007 Apr; Vol. 17 (4),
pp. 539-47; PMID: 17416707
Although
online focus groups are emerging as a worthwhile methodological approach for
qualitative researchers, reporting has been constrained in several ways. The
majority of studies report asynchronous groups, whereas others employ
synchronous exchanges, the efficacy of which with young people has seldom been
explored. Considering the popularity of the Internet as a communication tool for young people, this missed
opportunity is surprising. Based on a series of synchronous online focus groups
with young people, the authors explore why this approach might be an effective
way of engaging young people with appearance-related concerns in research. In this article, they discuss
the process of hosting and moderating synchronous online focus groups,
highlighting some of the ethical, pragmatic, and personal challenges that might
face researchers using this method. Through a reflexive approach, they intend
to inform and encourage qualitative researchers to consider alternative ways of
engaging young people in research.
Issues
surrounding the use of the Internet for data collection. (eng) By Klein J, The American Journal Of Occupational Therapy.: Official Publication Of The American Occupational
Therapy Association [Am J Occup Ther],
2002 May-Jun; Vol. 56 (3), pp. 340-3; PMID: 12058524
NO ABSTRACT
Conducting
Internet-based HIV/STD prevention survey research: considerations in design and
evaluation. (eng; includes abstract)
By Pequegnat W, AIDS And
Behavior [AIDS Behav], 2007 Jul; Vol. 11 (4), pp.
505-21; PMID: 17053853
The aim of this paper is
to advance rigorous Internet-based
HIV/STD Prevention quantitative research by providing guidance to fellow
researchers, faculty supervising graduates, human subjects'
committees, and review groups about some of the most common and challenging
questions about Internet-based HIV
prevention quantitative research. The authors represent several research groups
who have gained experience conducting some of the first Internet-based HIV/STD prevention quantitative surveys in the US
and elsewhere. Sixteen questions specific to Internet-based HIV prevention survey research are identified. To
aid rigorous development and review of applications, these questions are
organized around six common criteria used in federal review groups in the US:
significance, innovation, approach (broken down further by research design,
formative development, procedures, sampling considerations, and data collection);
investigator, environment and human subjects' issues. Strategies promoting
minority participant recruitment, minimizing attrition, validating
participants, and compensating participants are discussed. Throughout, the
implications on budget and realistic timetabling are identified.
Summary of Issues
and Challenges in the Use of New Technologies in Clinical Care and With
Children and Adolescents With Chronic Illness.
By: Drotar, Dennis; Greenley,
Rachel; Hoff, Ahna; Johnson, Courtney; Lewandowski,
Amy; Moore, Melisa; Spilsbury, James; Witherspoon,
Dawn; Zebracki, Kathy. Children's Health Care,
Spring2006, Vol. 35 Issue 1, p91-102, 12p; DOI: 10.1207/s15326888chc3501_8; (AN 20296574)
New
technologies such as telehealth and Internet-based interventions provide
powerful methods of clinical intervention and research with pediatric populations, especially children with
chronic health conditions. Barriers to utilization of these technologies
include the experiences and attitudes of professionals and families, ethical concerns about privacy and
confidentiality resources, and control. The utilization of new technologies
will be promoted by addressing resistance toward and discomfort of new
technology, enhancing ways of providing information via technology, and
facilitating education efforts within the general population. Recommendations
to advance research concerning new
technologies include the following: (a) develop benchmarks for evaluations, (b)
use quantitative and qualitative approaches, (c) conduct theory-guided research, (d) study the cost benefits
of different technologies, (e) document the impact of technologies on
comprehensive outcomes, and (f) facilitate multisite research collaboration. [ABSTRACT FROM
AUTHOR]
Getting
Wired: Exploiting the Internet for the Collection of Valid Sexuality Data.
By: Mustanski, Brian S..
Journal of Sex Research, Nov2001, Vol. 38 Issue 4, p292, 10p; (AN 6467005)
This paper
explores the use of the Internet as
a data collection method for sexuality research.
Benefits, such as larger, more representative samples, and risks to validity,
such as lying and sabotage, are discussed in the context of a large Internet-based study of how
"having sex" is defined by gay, lesbian, and bisexual college
students. Suggestions for how to maximize utility as well as combat potential
risks and ethical dilemmas are
offered. Special attention is paid to the use of the Internet to collect data from traditionally underrepresented
groups. The article ends with a look to the future of sex research over the Internet,
exploring the collection of nonsurvey data. [ABSTRACT
FROM AUTHOR]
Medical internet
ethics: a field in evolution. (eng; includes
abstract) By Dyer KA, Medinfo.
MEDINFO [Medinfo], 2001; Vol. 10 (Pt 2), pp. 1287-91;
PMID: 11604935
As in any new
field, the merger of medicine, e-commerce and the Internet raises many questions pertaining to ethical conduct. Key
issues include defining the essence of the patient-provider relationship,
establishing guidelines and training for practicing online medicine and
therapy, setting standards for ethical online research, determining guidelines for providing quality healthcare
information and requiring ethical conduct for medical and health websites.
Physicians who follow their professional code of ethics are obligated not to exploit the relationship they have with
patients, nor allow anyone else working with them to do so. Physicians and
therapists are obligated to serve those who place trust in them for treatment,
whether in face-to-face or online Internet
encounters with patients or clients. This ethical responsibility to patients
and clients is often in direct conflict with the business model of generating
profits. Healthcare professionals involved in Medical Internet Ethics need to
define the scope of competent medical and healthcare on the Internet. The emerging ethical issues
facing medicine on the Internet, the
current state of medical ethics on
the Internet and questions for
future directions of study in this evolving field are reviewed in this paper.
Qualitative Health Research, Vol. 17,
No. 4, 539-547 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/1049732306298754
© 2007 SAGE Publications
Doing Synchronous Online Focus Groups With Young People
Methodological Reflections
Fiona E. Fox
The University of the West of England,
Bristol, United Kingdom
Marianne Morris
The University of the West of England,
Bristol, United Kingdom
Nichola Rumsey
The University of the West of England,
Bristol, United Kingdom
Although
online focus groups are emerging as a worthwhile methodological approach
for qualitative researchers, reporting has been constrained in
several ways. The majority of studies report asynchronous groups,
whereas others employ synchronous exchanges, the efficacy of which
with young people has seldom been explored. Considering the
popularity of the Internet as a communication tool for young people,
this missed opportunity is surprising. Based on a series of synchronous
online focus groups with young people, the authors explore why this
approach might be an effective way of engaging young people with
appearance-related concerns in research. In this article, they
discuss the process of hosting and moderating synchronous online
focus groups, highlighting some of the ethical, pragmatic, and
personal challenges that might face researchers using this method.
Through a reflexive approach, they intend to inform and encourage
qualitative researchers to consider alternative ways of engaging
young people in research.
Ethical
Dilemmas in Research on Internet Communities. By: Flicker,
Sarah; Haans, Dave; Skinner, Harvey. Qualitative
Health Research, Jan2004, Vol. 14 Issue 1, p124-134, 11p, 4 charts; DOI:
10.1177/1049732303259842; (AN 12395020)
There has been
a rapid growth in the number of articles using Internet data sources to illuminate health behavior. However,
little has been written about the ethical
considerations of online research,
especially studies involving data from Internet
discussion boards. Guidelines are needed to ensure ethical conduct. In this article, the authors examine how a
youth-focused research program
negotiated ethical practices in the
creation of its comprehensive health site and online message board. They
address three situations in which ethical
predicaments arose: (a) enrolling research
participants, (b) protecting participants from risk or harm, and (c) linking
public and private data. Drawing on the ethical
principles of autonomy, nonmaleficence, justice, and
beneficence, the authors present practical guidelines for resolving ethical dilemmas in research on Internet communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
E-Research:
Ethics, Security, Design, and Control in Psychological Research on the
Internet. By: Nosek, Brian A.; Banaji, Mahzarin R.; Greenwald,
Anthony G.. Journal of Social Issues, Jan2002, Vol. 58
Issue 1, p161, 16p; (AN 6194715)
Differences
between traditional laboratory research
and Internet-based research require
a review of basic issues of research
methodology. These differences have implications for research ethics (e.g.,
absence of researcher, potential exposure of confidential data and/or identity
to a third party, guaranteed debriefing) and security (e.g., confidentiality and anonymity, security of data transmission, security
of data storage, and tracking participants over time). We also review basic design issues a researcher should
consider before implementing an Internet study, including the problem of
participant self-selection and loss of experimental control on the Internet laboratory. An additional challenge for
Internet-based research is the
increased opportunity for participant misbehavior, intentional or otherwise. We
discuss methods to detect and minimize these threats to the validity of Internetbased research.
[ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Ethical
issues in qualitative research on Internet communities. By: Eysenbach, Gunther; Till, James
E. BMJ: British Medical Journal, 11/10/2001, Vol. 323 Issue 7321, p1103, 3p;
(AN 5477790)
Discusses the Internet
as a source of information on patient concerns and opinions for physicians. Issues
of informed consent and privacy in Internet
research; Details of Internet communities; Qualitative
research on the Internet; Question whether Internet
communities are private of public
communications; How to obtain informed consent from Internet communities.
The Dark Side of
Truth(s): Ethical Dilemmas in Researching the Personal. By: Clark,
M. Carolyn; Sharf, Barbara F..
Qualitative Inquiry, Apr2007, Vol. 13 Issue 3, p399-416, 18p; (AN 24686809)
This article
explores the sometimes problematic issue of truth when conducting qualitative
research on people's lives. Four ethical
dilemmas are presented relating to
the potentially harmful consequences of truth encountered by the authors in
their own research: a promise to share the analysis of a patient's medical
record containing unflattering comments by her physicians; the unintended
sharing of a traumatic event, held secret since its occurrence, by a woman
inmate; a disagreement with the Institutional Review Board over what
constitutes ethical practice in
online research; and an interview with a recently released political dissident
in a totalitarian country. The authors advocate for multiple venues in which
qualitative researchers can discuss ethical
dilemmas such as these to learn from
one another's experience and together develop a more reflexive practice.
[ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Unsolicited
Narratives from the Internet: A Rich Source of Qualitative Data. By:
Robinson, Katherine Morton. Qualitative Health Research, Sep2001, Vol. 11 Issue
5, p706, 9p, 1 diagram; (AN 5812209)
Recently, the Internet has become a forum for
informal communication. Many—whose voices may have been unheard—can now express
themselves through this medium. Rich narratives
are available to the qualitative researcher from bulletin boards, guest books, Web pages, and listservs on the Internet.
In this article, these data sources are defined and described. Strategies for
using these data are discussed. One concern with using unsolicited data from
the Internet is the protection of
human subjects and the requirement for consent. A proposed model describing the
process for deciding when such data are publicly available, as defined by the
Office for the Protection of Rights of Research Subjects, and when the use of
the data requires consent is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Ethics
Behav. 2003;13(3):211-9.
Ethical issues surrounding human
participants research using the Internet.
The Internet
appears to offer psychologists doing research unrestricted access to infinite
amounts and types of data. However, the ethical issues surrounding the use of
data and data collection methods are challenging research review boards at many
institutions. This article illuminates some of the obstacles facing researchers
who wish to take advantage of the Internet's flexibility. The applications of
the APA ethical codes for conducting research on human participants on the
Internet are reviewed. The principle of beneficence, as well as privacy and
confidentiality, informed consent, deception, and
avoiding harm are all illustrated through the use of a hypothetical online
study.
Wood RT, Griffiths
MD, Eatough V.
Online data collection from video game
players: methodological issues.
Cyberpsychol Behav. 2004 Oct;7(5):511-8.
Review.
PMID: 15667045 [PubMed
- indexed for MEDLINE]
The paper
outlines the advantages and disadvantages of using the Internet to collect data
concerning both online and offline gamers. Drawing from experience of a number
of studies carried out online by the authors and by reviewing the available
literature, the authors discuss the main issues concerning data collected from
video game players. The paper examines a number of areas, including recruiting
and utilizing participants, validity, suitable methods of data collection
(i.e., questionnaire studies, online tests, participant observation, online
interviews), and ethical issues. It is concluded that online research methods
can be a useful way of examining the psychosocial aspects of video game
playing.
Douma, Michael;
Gamito, Eduard J
Journal of Cases on
Information Technology. Vol. 9, no. 3, pp. 15-26. July-Sept.
2007
This case
study describes how a Web-based technology helped a small nonprofit cancer
education and research organization collect data anonymously from Native
American cancer survivors from across the North American continent. The system
described herein, known as the Privacy Broker System, is adaptable to different
cultures and languages. The Privacy Broker System made cancer education and
research, which was previously infeasible due to high costs and regulatory
constraints, possible.
Im, E. O., et. al., Issues in an Internet survey among midlife Asian women.
Health Care for Women International v. 25 no. 2 (February 2004) p. 158-64
Possible
future directions for Internet use in women's health research are considered by
examining the practical issues that were raised in an Internet-based study on
menopausal symptoms among midlife Asian women in the U.S. The survey of 62
women identified a number of practical issues associated with using the Internet
as a data-collection tool. These included potential selection biases, ethical
concerns, a low response rate, frequent consultations, and potential data entry
errors. Future directions in women's health research using the Internet as a recruitment or a data collection method are discussed.
Wharton, C. M., et.
al., PCs or
paper-and-pencil: Online surveys for data collection. Journal of the
American Dietetic Association v. 103 no. 11 (November 2003) p. 1458, 1460
The Internet
is a powerful data collection tool for survey-based research. The Internet
offers many advantages as a data collection tool: Internet-based surveys offer
lower overall costs, greater speed in survey distribution and collection,
potentially better response rates, fewer response errors, and more complete
responses overall. The Internet allows for a sense of social distance so that
research subjects may respond more openly. There are some potential pitfalls
when using the Internet in research, including its uncontrolled environment,
potential lack of anonymity and data security, layout differences of
Internet-based surveys due to low-end technology and different Web browser
programs and settings, and accessibility issues that call into question the generalizability of data. Nevertheless, growing research
suggests that there is little or no difference in accurate reporting of
information from online surveys as compared with paper-and-pencil surveys.
Collecting behavioural data using the world wide web:
Considerations for researchers
Author: Rhodes S.D.; Bowie D.A.; Hergenrather K.C. Source: Journal of Epidemiology and
Community Health 57, no.1 (01 JAN 2003) p. 68-73
Objective:
To identify and describe advantages, challenges, and ethical considerations of
web based behavioural data collection. Methods: This
discussion is based on the authors' experiences in survey development and study
design, respondent recruitment, and internet research, and on the experiences
of others as found in the literature. Results: The advantages of using the world wide web to collect behavioural
data include rapid access to numerous potential respondents and previously
hidden populations, respondent openness and full participation, opportunities
for student research, and reduced research costs. Challenges identified include
issues related to sampling and sample representativeness,
competition for the attention of respondents, and potential limitations
resulting from the much cited "digital divid&equot;, literacy, and disability. Ethical considerations include
anonymity and privacy, providing and substantiating informed consent, and
potential risks of malfeasance. Conclusions: Computer mediated communications,
including electronic mail, the world wide web, and
interactive programs will play an ever increasing part in the future of behavioural science research. Justifiable concerns
regarding the use of the world wide web in research
exist, bur as access to, and use of, the internet becomes more widely and
representatively distributed globally, the world wide web will become more
applicable. In fact, the world wide web may be the
only research tool able to reach some previously hidden population subgroups.
Furthermore, many of the criticisms of online data collection are common to
other survey research methodologies.
E-research: Ethics, security, design,
and control in psychological Research on the internet
Nosek A. B.A.; Banaji
R. M.R.; Greenwald G. A.G.
2002
English Journal
Journal of Social Issues, 58, no.1
(2002) p. 161-176
Differences
between traditional laboratory research and Internet-based research require a
review of basic issues of research methodology. These differences have
implications for research ethics (e.g., absence of researcher, potential
exposure of confidential data and/or identity to a third party, guaranteed
debriefing) and security (e.g., confidentiality and anonymity, security of data
transmission, security of data storage, and tracking participants over time).
We also review basic design issues a researcher should consider before
implementing an Internet study, including the problem of participant
self-selection and loss of experimental control on the Internet laboratory. An
additional challenge for Internet-based research is the increased opportunity
for participant misbehavior, intentional or otherwise. We discuss methods to
detect and minimize these threats to the validity of Internet-based research.
Ethical Issues for Qualitative Research
in On-line Communities Authors: Brownlow
C.; O'Dell L. Source: Disability &
Society, Volume 17, Number 6, 1 October 2002
, pp. 685-694(10)
Recent years
have witnessed a rapid growth in Internet technologies, which offer new
possibilities for researching hard to reach groups. However, research
guidelines, which could aid research in this new forum, have not yet been fully
developed. The focus of the article will be ethical issues that may arise from
using the Internet as a research tool if we are to protect and respect our
participants. Questions surrounding gaining informed consent, privacy of
participants and new power differentials, which may arise through interaction
in an on-line forum, are raised. These are supplemented by reflections from
work conducted by the authors using on-line discussion formus
as method of research with people with autism.