Here are my comments on your situation: > Question #1: Is the identity of the researcher something that is > ethically > required to be included in an informed consent form? That is, can > participants truly give informed consent if they don�t know who > is conducting > the research?
It is probably not technically necessary to have the student researcher's name on the actual survey, however there should be some information available to participants that would allow them to contact the researcher regarding any questions or concerns about the experiment. The code of federal regulations for research with humans subjects (45 CFR 46) requires that informed consent include "an explanation of whom to contact for answers to pertinent questions about the research and research subjects' rights, and whom to contact in the event of a research-related injury to the subject." The Belmont Report on research ethics states that subjects should have "the opportunity to ask questions. Additional items have been proposed, including......., the persons responsible for the research,..." > Question #2: If this research is not considered ethical because of the > anonymity of the researcher, should I still distribute these > surveys to my > students? Would I be acting unethically if I did this? I think you could, however I would not. I have a bit of a problem with the way in which the student "asked" for your assistance with this study. I can't believe that the student actually asked you to administer their survey in your class, during class time, and to collect and return the surveys to the department chair (wait a minute...of course I can believe it). First, you have no obligation to do this and, depending on your institution, I think it would be a violation of your academic freedom for another faculty member to dictate to you what you should do with your class time. Second, if you do this, you should first sit down with the student researcher and review the study/design. You are being asked to become part of the research project by doing ALL of the data collection. From my perspective this means that you are both involved in the project as a researcher and that you endorse the project. Third, discuss with the student the possibilities of coauthorship (you are actually running the study!). Finally, if you do this you may be setting a dangerous precedent so that all of your Research/Design students will begin making these requests of you (looking on the bright side...you may not have to prep your lectures for a while and your presentation/publication record may expand considerably!!). > Question #3: If this research is not considered ethical because of the > anonymity of the researcher, is the department chair acting > unethically by > allowing this type of research to be conducted by her students? Should I > approach the department chair about my reasons for not distributing the > survey to my students? Keep in mind that I am an untenured, > junior faculty > and the department chair will play a major role when I go up for > tenure. If > I approach the department chair about my concerns with this > research, am I > jeopardizing my own future at this university? This is a tough one. I am in the same position as you are, and I don't care how many times I hear that situations such as these have no effect on the tenure review process, it still makes me nervous. There is always room for compromise. You might talk with your chairperson, and assuming that you have class time to dedicate to the project, have the chair come to class and do the student's research that day. This would remove your involvement from the research and still remain flexible enough to accommodate the student/chairperson's request. You could, of course, approach your institution's IRB, but that could easily be misinterpreted as going behind your chair's back and may become a larger issue than necessary. GOOD LUCK!! Cheers, Rob Flint ------------------------------------------------------------- Robert W. Flint, Jr., Ph.D. The College of Saint Rose Department of Psychology 432 Western Avenue Albany, NY 12203-1490 Office: 518-458-5379 Lab: 518-454-2102 Fax: 518-458-5446 Behavioral Neuroscience Homepage: http://academic.strose.edu/academic/flintr/ Department of Psychology Homepage: http://academic.strose.edu/academic/psychology/index.htm --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
