Collaborate – Think Critically: Learn from researchers who have been in your shoes – use their examples and experiences to explore how their ‘lessons learned’ can improve your own research approach. Take it one step further with additional thought-provoking questions online.

5.1 Translating Ethical Dilemmas into Helping Respondents

Can you follow Phillipa and use ethical problems in your research as a way of thinking about how you can be of assistance to the people you want to study?

Phillipa recognises in the first paragraph of this example that there is a gulf of experience between herself and her study participants. Are there any similar gulfs that may need to be addressed in your research?

5.2 Designing an Information Sheet

Review the information you are providing respondents. What can you use from Rachael’s example?

See, for example, the first paragraph where she outlines the potential wider benefits of the study and the third paragraph, where she outlines how data will be collected and stored. Will you provide this information to respondents?

5.3 Being Adaptable

In this case, Eileen decided that anonymity was not appropriate for her research topic. Are there any ethical protocols that you think may cause problems in your research?

How can you use Eileen’s example to adapt when following your ethical protocol causes problems? What person or group would you seek approval from to adapt in this way?

Which ethical protocols would you never deviate from in your research?