Survey Ethics

Informed Consent

The ethics of survey research and its importance often are not covered thoroughly in research methods textbooks and courses. However, the acquisition of knowledge through survey research requires public trust and, therefore, researchers must adhere to ethical practices and principles involving human subjects. Most governmental bodies throughout the industrialized world have established ethical guidelines for conducting survey research. Research proposals often are subject to regulatory review by one or more ethics boards (e.g. an institutional review board) that have been established to ensure that the ethical guidelines set forth by the governing body will be followed. In addition to regulatory bodies overseeing research activities involving human subjects, most professional organizations and associations also have established guidelines and standards of conduct for conducting research that are expected to be maintained by organizational members. The primary tenet among these governing bodies and organizations, as it relates to carrying out research on human subjects in an ethical manner, is that the researcher be cognizant of research participants' rights and minimize the possibility of risk (i.e. avoid exposing research participants to the possibility of physical or psychological harm, discomfort, or danger).

To that end, central to all research ethics policy is that research participants must give their informed consent voluntarily. The purpose of informed consent is to reasonably ensure that survey respondents understand the nature and the purpose of the survey, what is expected of them if they participate, the expected length of time necessary for them to complete the survey (and, if a longitudinal study, the frequency with which their participation will be requested), how the data will be utilized, and their rights as research participants, including their right to confidentiality. Based on the information provided by the researcher, potential respondents can then make an informed determination as to whether they are willing to participate in a given study (i.e. give their consent). In addition to the willingness to participate, it is fundamental that potential respondents have the competence to [Page 866]understand why the study is being conducted and what their rights and responsibilities are as respondents in order to participate.

Survey research among children and adolescents under the age of 18 requires parental or guardian consent before the researcher can even speak with the juvenile. Frequently parental consent must be given in writing through use of either an active or passive consent form. Also, some ethics boards may require, in addition to parental consent, the assent of juvenile participants. If assent is required of juvenile participants, they must also have the capacity to comprehend the purpose of the study and their rights and responsibilities as participants.

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