lachto wrote:
HREC approved this study including all the interaction with with the respondents, did you read the Plain Language Statement before beginning? I am trying to help, what would you like to happen here?
Edited, Aug 9th 2012 3:27am by lachto
You are dealing with human subjects which requires "informed consent" . I am sure we can all agree is defined as "
A process by which a subject voluntarily confirms his or her willingness to participate in a particular trial, after having been informed of all aspects of the trial that are relevant to the subject's decision to participate. Informed consent is documented by means of a written, signed and dated informed consent form. " This does not mean, slowly trickling out information, especially the IMPORTANT information such as to whom to contact with questions ( I had to research that myself because you neglected, or intentionally left out your contact information. Who is your HREC, The email address for the other professor etc)
"None of the oral and written information concerning the trial, including the written informed consent form, should contain any language that causes the subject or the subject’s legally acceptable representative to waive or to appear to waive any legal rights, or that releases or appears to release the investigator, the institution, the sponsor, or their agents from liability or negligence." And, from personal experience, we always have to include the following type of statement
"That the subject's participation in the trial is voluntary and that the subject may refuse to participate or withdraw from the trial, at any time, without penalty or loss of benefits to which the subject is otherwise entitled." If there is a chance that we might not be able to fully delete their response, then you explain that.
Here are a few examples of what a proper consent form looks like:
http://www.irb.cornell.edu/forms/sample.htm
http://www.tamusa.tamus.edu/graduatestudies/1sessioncontrolled.doc
Also, since some of the posters here are underage, how will you get their parents permission?
There are human subjects behind the pixels. What you submitted to your HREC, needs to be adhered to. You want to publish, correct?
Some of our posters like Kavekk aren't educated, and won't notice or care if you violate ethics standards regarding human subjects in research (in fact, they, may even encourage it because it amuses them.). But, those of us who are, and do research ourselves, notice and we are the ones asking you for further information not because we want to hurt your feelings but because we want you to do it RIGHT. You are our peer.
Whose to say in 5 years, if you publish, that your information won't shape the way Counselors provide therapy to their clients. I can see some real, viable uses for your data, but I can't use your research as a reference, if you even unknowingly violate human subject research ethics standards.
I'm just a Masters student, explaining to a Doctoral student about research ethics and that feels frustratingly awkward. Does that make sense?