This case study, being in the prison, could have limited data. Will the prisoners give accurate data if there isn’t anything in it for them? Having only 30 participants in the study is also limiting the outcome of the study. Not every prisoner has had a traumatic childhood experience causing effects on interpersonal relationships in adulthood. The prisoners are a vulnerable population being in the prison, they may be able to be easily coerced (or do the coercing of others), and there could be the possibility of being under the influence of drugs. There is also a risk to the person doing the interviewing, can their safety be guaranteed?
One of the benefits of having the study done in the prison would be that it is in a controlled setting. They also handed out a questionnaire prior to the study asking questions allowing them to sort out those that didn’t qualify for this particular study. Another benefit to the researcher is that they are conducting the study as a face-to-face interview. This allows them to meet the people in the study and speak directly to them, getting to know them as a person, which is also good for the participant.
This study is a “Full Board IRB”. They are obtaining an informed consent and are utilizing a vulnerable population. With this they need to take into account that they need to make additional safeguards to protect the participants and their rights and welfare. They also need to make sure they are monitoring their data collection and keeping it in a safe/secure location, which are some more of the risks of this study.
Qiao, H. (3/2018). A Brief Introduction to Institutional Review Boards in the United States. Pediatric Investigation, 2(1):46-51.
What ethical guidelines are you considering to support your standpoints?
Ethically, they need to look at how the prisoners are being treated while they are in the prison, make sure they are all being treated equally. They also need to make sure they are keeping the people they are bringing into the survey with the same guidelines. That they aren’t “picking and choosing” whom they are using, but following the data of who qualifies for the survey.
I agree that not all prisoners have a traumatic life experience that causes effect on interpersonal relationships. I believe that with this study that the researcher can find out the ones who have had these relationships by the survey that is given along with consent prior to the subject being involved in the study. I believe that the principle of Beneficence applies most to this study considering the “do no harm” policy. This makes sure that all participants are treated in an ethical manner by making sure that they respect them and protect them from any harm (Research involving human participants, 2016).
Chapter 4: Assessing risks and potential benefits and evaluating vulnerability (Research involving human participants V1). (2016, February 1). OEC. https://www.onlineethics.org/cms/8033.aspx
I agree completely. This is why I say they need to make sure they are all being treated equally. I also feel they need to make sure that there is some anonymity involved, so there isn’t any repercussion from any other inmates.