Alternative Research Assignment Essay
Alternative Research Assignment Essay
The participation of research subjects is crucial for scientific research. However, it is vital to prioritize the safety and well-being of the individuals participating in studies with human subjects. In this article, we will talk about people’s concerns when participating in studies like these. We will also cover how these concerns are typically addressed, what can upset or make uncomfortable, and how well participants think their rights are protected.
- What are concerns that participants in human subjects studies frequently express?
People who participate in research involving human subjects often have various concerns that must be addressed. Privacy and confidentiality, time inconvenience, potential physical harm or discomfort, fair treatment, respect, coercion, and informed consent are some everyday worries voiced by participants (Park et al., 2022). The apprehension regarding stigma and discrimination is also a significant concern for individuals participating in such studies. They fear their involvement could result in adverse effects like losing employment opportunities or being denied insurance coverage. Researchers can guarantee participant pleasure and ethical conduct by addressing these concerns.
- What is the usual process for addressing those concerns? How well does this process work?
Researchers need to obtain informed consent to address the fears of individuals participating in a study. Participants are given information about the study, including its nature, potential risks, and benefits. They are then asked to agree to participate voluntarily. (Millum & Bromwich, 2021). Throughout the survey, ongoing contact between researchers and participants is critical for delivering updates, addressing issues, and assuring participant well-being. Additionally, ensuring the protection of participants’ privacy and confidentially and minimizing any physical harm or discomfort they may experience is crucial during this process. Promptly addressing any concerns expressed by participants is also an essential responsibility of researchers.
The effectiveness of procedures to address these concerns can vary depending on factors such as the specific type of study being conducted and the characteristics of those participating. Numerous studies have found that obtaining informed consent from participants, safeguarding their privacy and confidentiality rights, and minimizing physical harm or discomfort significantly contribute to effectively managing participant concerns (Brittain et al., 2020; Pietilä et al., 2019).
- What are potential triggers for participants? How can those triggers be addressed?
According to Ashley (2020), the individuals taking part in the study might encounter different factors that could trigger intense responses. These triggers may be caused by the study’s context, location, and language used to acquire informed consent. Researchers must act to manage these triggers. When we communicate clearly, it helps everyone involved to fully understand and grasp all the information provided in the informed consent. Researchers must also emphasize a safe and comfortable study location. From the start, participants should be aware of the study’s nature, risks, and benefits and be able to withdraw.
- How well do participants think their rights are protected?
The degree to which participants perceive their rights being safeguarded may differ based on the type of study and the participants involved. Nevertheless, research findings indicate that enhancing participant perception regarding rights protection involves ensuring informed consent, acknowledging privacy and confidentiality concerns, and minimizing any physical harm or discomfort they might experience(Asiedu et al., 2021). By adhering to these practices, researchers can effectively improve participants’ confidence in the protection provided for their rights.
Conclusion
Human subjects’ study participants often worry about privacy, confidentiality, time, potential injury or discomfort, fair treatment, respect, coercion, and informed permission. Informed consent, continual communication, and participant privacy and well-being resolve these concerns. Clear communication and a safe study environment can mitigate study context, location, and informed consent language triggers. Informed consent, privacy, and harm reduction can improve participants’ rights impression. Human subjects research can be ethical and participant-satisfying if researchers prioritize participant concerns and rights.
References
Ashley, F. (2020). Accounting for research fatigue in research ethics. Bioethics, 35(3), 270–276. https://doi.org/10.1111/bioe.12829
Asiedu, E., Karlan, D., Lambon-Quayefio, M., & Udry, C. (2021). A call for structured ethics appendices in social science papers. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 118(29). https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2024570118
Brittain, S., Ibbett, H., Lange, E., Dorward, L., Hoyte, S., Marino, A., Milner‐Gulland, E. J., Newth, J., Rakotonarivo, S., Veríssimo, D., & Lewis, J. (2020). Ethical considerations when conservation research involves people. Conservation Biology, 34(4). https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.13464
Millum, J., & Bromwich, D. (2021). Informed consent: What must be disclosed and what must be understood? The American Journal of Bioethics, 21(5), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1080/15265161.2020.1863511
Park, A. E. S., Krysinska, K., & Andriessen, K. (2022). Ethical issues in bereavement research with minors: A scoping review. Children, 9(9), 1400. https://doi.org/10.3390/children9091400
Pietilä, A.-M., Nurmi, S.-M., Halkoaho, A., & Kyngäs, H. (2019). Qualitative research: Ethical considerations. The Application of Content Analysis in Nursing Science Research, 1(1), 49–69. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-30199-6_6
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Participation in Research Assignment
This assignment asks you to participate in a research project as a research subject and to reflect on your experience. If you do not wish to be a subject in a research project you may complete the Alternative Assignment explained below. This project counts as one of the five point assignments in the course and is weighted for grading purposes equally with all the five point assignment. You may sign up for studies done at UTA or at any other university.
Research Assignment
1. Enroll in a human subjects research study conducted by UTA or by some other university. The study can be in any discipline, but must be conducted by university based investigators. Your instructor will give you a list of possible resources.
2. Complete the consent process and at least one data collection session. (Many times there is only one data collection session involved, but if there is more, you do not have to wait until all data collection is complete to go on with this assignment).
3. Write a reflection answering the following questions. Include a cover page (see the example cover page for the Finding the Evidence paper for a model). You can use the title “Research Subject Participation Reflection”. Double space your writing. Your reflection should be from 250 to 300 words. References are not necessary. If you use references make sure they are in APA format. Since you are writing about your own experiences you may use personal pronouns such as “I” and “my”. These are the questions to answer:
A. Give the name of the study, the name of the principal investigator, and the name of the sponsoring university.
B. Briefly explain your understanding of what the study was about.
C. Describe the consent process and anything you noticed that was done to protect your rights as a participant.
D. Did you feel triggered (something set off emotional distress) by anything in the research? If so, please explain.
E. Did you feel that your rights were violated in any way? If so, please explain.
Alternative Assignment
1. Find at least two scholarly references that address the following questions. You may need more references if the two you find do not address all questions. Scholarly articles are articles that are peer reviewed and can be found in professional journals. Most sources found on CINAHL are scholarly sources. Another place to look is Google Scholar.
2. Write an essay of 250 to 300 words that addresses the following questions. The word limit is for the body of the essay, not counting references. Be sure to use APA format. You may not use personal pronouns such as “I” or “my”. Use a 7th edition APA cover page. You can follow the sample cover page for the Finding the Evidence paper as a model. You can title your paper “Alternative Research Assignment”. These are the questions to answer:
A. What are concerns that participants in human subjects studies frequently express?
B. What is the usual process for addressing those concerns? How well does this process work?
C. What are potential triggers for participants? How can those triggers be addressed?
D. How well do participants think their rights are protected?