[Last modified: November, 29 2024 05:37 PM]
This week we discussed ethics and how we should approach ethical issues and approval for our fieldwork project. Both the lecture and seminar discussions were extremely useful both in guiding what type of fieldwork project we pursue and how we should construct our research to ensure appropriate safeguards and guardrails are put in place to ensure the protection of interlocutors and researcher.
This week my group considered a research proposal for the Ethics Committee as follows:
“Young women’s perceptions of breasts and breastfeeding:
This project explores the various and contradictory social messages about breasts and appropriate bodily behavior in the context of encouragement of breastfeeding, debates about public breastfeeding and the public sexualisation of breasts through advertising and other media. The research will involve interviews, group discussions and a questionnaire with (a) sixth-form students (aged 16-19) at two schools in London and (b) a mother-toddler group, in order to reveal young women’s perceptions of their breasts and bodies and their understanding of what shapes these perceptions.”
The proposal raised a considerable number of issues:
Ethical Issues: Firstly, this research should not be conducted by a man. Secondly we felt the minimum age of the school children should be raised to 18. We felt this would not materially impact the research output. Thirdly we were concerned by the ‘Group Discussion’ aspect of this project particularly in the context of school children as it raises questions of confidentiality and post project victimisation. Fourthly, consent should be written not verbal and all participants should be fully briefed on the range of topics that will be discussed in the interviews before a consent form is presented. Fifthly, for the interviews with the 18/19 year olds it may be advisable to have a third party such as a psychologist (not a parent) present during the interviews.
Data Protection: As a minimum the data should use pseudonyms but possibly anonymised may be preferable. If not fully anonymised and in any event the named data should be encrypted.
Power/Coercion: As stated above a man can not conduct this research even if accompanied. If the above criteria are followed we do not believe there should be a material concern in respect of power asymmetry and coercion.
Vulnerable Individuals: This topic is very sensitive. Individuals, particularly the school children, may have body dysmorphia or have experienced sexual harassment or assault and may be extremely uncomfortable discussing such a deeply personal subject. It is for this reason that group discussions seem inappropriate on this topic.
Appropriate Committee: We considered this medium to high risk. Even with the above proposed amendments it should still be deemed medium/high risk and referred to UCL REC.
In summary whilst the proposed project presents some material ethical challenges if the researcher follows the various suggestions above it could reasonably be presented UCL REC.