05 Jun Because the researcher is a data collection instrument, qualitative research presents many possible ethical dilemmas. Three common areas of ethical dilemmas in qualitative resea

Conflict of interest Conflict of interest in research is an ethical dilemma that could arise based on the reason for the research.  In the American Psychological Association (APA) guide to ethics, Principle C is integrity.  Psychologists are to promote things with accuracy and honesty.  A conflict of interest would need to be discussed and worked through.  In research, a conflict of interest might occur if the researcher has a personal gain that is not divulged before conducting and getting approval for the research.  A researcher might only look at certain data that underscores the hypothesis or their own bias in the research. Political, personal, and professional bias can influence research leading to a conflict of interest (Resnick, 2023). Tangible and intangible conflicts of interest in research threaten the objectivity of scientific pursuit and may result in an increased risk of harm to human research participants (Capella University, 2008). Vulnerable Populations & Protected Populations Beneficence is making every effort to secure the participants' well-being: 1) do no harm, 2) maximize possible benefits, and 3) minimize any possible harm (National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research, 1979; APA, 2018).  It is clear in the APA Code 8.02, informed consent to research means ensuring the purpose, duration, procedures, right to decline or withdraw and who to contact with questions is clearly delineated (APA, 2018). When looking at social media, one must take precautions.  In the research looking at utilizing social media to identify and treat those with suicidal or self-injurious behaviors, the subject is sensitive.  Groups that the participants may be affiliated with online could have discussions of a sensitive nature.  These vulnerable groups require extra emphasis on respect and caution (Golder et al., 2017).  Self as Subject Making oneself the object of self-inquiry becomes the subject of their experience. Looking at reflexivity, Ide and Boddoe (2023), discuss questioning, analyzing, and evaluating oneself during all of the stages of research, to understand what they call knowledge production to bring a different attitude and understanding to and interpretation of the experience and meaning.  Doing so helps interpret the lived experience in a way that is accurate and therefore ethical. Recognizing the self is accomplished by looking at one’s assumptions, actions, emotions, and thoughts (Ide & Boddoe, 2023). Ethical Issues Ethical issues can arise throughout all phases of the research process and the researcher needs to not only plan to avoid issues in advance but also know when and how to react as they arise. The interview process can create a power dynamic that the researcher must be aware of.  In building trust and avoiding leading questions this can be mitigated (Creswell & Poth, 2018). Furthermore, there is an extra layer of concern when using social media as discussed by Patton (2014).  He points out seven ethical issues that arise when analyzing Internet postings and being a part of an Internet community for research purposes.  When looking at social media and the various groups and communities the adolescents in the study are involved in, the researcher must pay particular attention to intrusiveness, respect for privacy, sensitivity to the vulnerability of the community, and potential harm.  The researcher must investigate if informed consent is needed for the internet, confidentiality, and intellectual property rights. Close consideration needs to be given to what will be accessed through the internet and these communities. References American Psychological Association. (2017). Ethical principles of psychologists and code of conduct (2002, amended effective June 1, 2010,      and January 1, 2017).  https://www.apa.org/ethics/code/index.aspxLinks to an external site. Capella University. (2008). Conflict of Interest in Research. University Policy 3.03.05. Golder, S., Ahmed, S., Norman, G., & Booth, A. (2017). Attitudes Toward the Ethics of Research Using Social Media: A Systematic Review.      Journal of medical Internet research, 19(6), e195. https://doi.org/10.2196/jmir.7082Links to an external site. Ide, Y., & Beddoe, L. (2023). Challenging perspectives: Reflexivity as a critical approach to qualitative social work research. Qualitative      Social Work, 0(0). https://doi-Links to an external site.org.library.capella.edu/10.1177/14733250231173522  National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research. (1979). The Belmont report: Ethical      principles and guidelines for the protection of human subjects of research.  U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.      https://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/regulations-and-policy/blemont-report/read-the-belmont-reportLinks to an external site. Resnik, D. (2023). Disclosing and managing non-fictional conflicts of interest in scientific publications.  Research Ethics, 19(2), 121-138.

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