✅ Ethical Considerations in Research — Informed Consent, Privacy & Institutional Review Boards (IRB)

#ResearchEthics | #InformedConsent | #IRB | #EthicalResearch | #ResearchMitraDay15

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🧭 Why Ethics in Research Matters

Research, especially in social science and business domains, often involves human participants. This makes ethics not optional but essential. Whether you're conducting surveys, interviews, experiments, or analyzing user data — maintaining participant rights, safety, and dignity is critical to credible and responsible research.

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🧾 1. Informed Consent: Respecting Participant Autonomy

Informed consent means participants must be:

✅ Fully informed about the purpose, method, risks, and benefits of the study

✅ Given the freedom to participate voluntarily

✅ Allowed to withdraw anytime without penalty

🔑 Key Elements:

Purpose of the study

Procedures involved

Potential risks and benefits

Assurance of confidentiality

Voluntary participation

Contact information of the researcher

🖊️ Always provide a written consent form (or verbal, if approved), especially in interviews or experiments.

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🔐 2. Privacy and Confidentiality: Protecting Participant Data

Respecting participant privacy goes beyond just collecting fewer details — it includes handling data with care.

🔒 Best Practices:

Anonymize names and sensitive information

Store data securely (password protection, encrypted drives)

Avoid sharing raw data without participant permission

Use pseudonyms in qualitative research reports

💡 Example: If you're surveying female entrepreneurs in small towns, never reveal location-specific identity markers unless consented.

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🏛️ 3. Institutional Review Board (IRB) or Ethics Committee Approval

An IRB or Ethics Committee is a panel of experts that reviews research proposals to ensure ethical standards are met — especially when:

Human participants are involved

There is physical, psychological, or social risk

The researcher seeks publication or funding

📝 When is IRB approval mandatory?

Academic theses involving human data

Funded projects (university or government)

Journal publication requiring ethics statement

⏳ Apply for IRB clearance before collecting data. Delaying this step can lead to rejection of your research.

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🚫 Ethical Pitfalls to Avoid

❌ Hiding the real purpose of the research from participants

❌ Using deception without debriefing

❌ Collecting personal data without permission

❌ Publishing photos or quotes without consent

❌ Incentivizing in a coercive manner

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✅ Ethics Checklist for Researchers

Item	Status ✅/❌
Informed consent form ready?
Privacy plan in place?
Data storage secured?
IRB approval taken (if needed)?
Participant rights respected?

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📚 Real-World Example

Case: A business school conducted a survey on work-life balance among gig workers without informing them how their data would be used.

Result: Backlash on social media and withdrawal of paper submission by the journal.

Lesson: Transparency is not just ethical — it protects your credibility.

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💬 Reflect & Share

🔍 Have you ever participated in research?

🗣️ Were you clearly informed about how your responses would be used?

Comment below or share an example of good/bad research ethics you’ve experienced!

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🗓️ Coming Up Tomorrow:

Day 16:

🧪 “Understanding Variables: Types and How to Classify Them in Research”