Level of IRB
Some case studies require IRB review, while others do not. Case study number two requires IRB review because there are human subjects participating in the study. There are three levels of IRB review, full, expedited, and exempt. In order to do this case study, a person should determine which level of IRB review that they need. Case study number two needs a full review. The reason a full review is needed is because it is using a vulnerable population, prisoners. During this interview, the researcher is also asking the interviewee questions that are related to trauma that they have been through as children and the effect it has had on their relationships as an adult (John Carroll University, 2020). This case study involves 30 participants that have been randomly chosen. They are able to decline participation but if they accept, they must sign a consent form. The interviewer asks questions from the questionnaire in a face to face interview.
Risks and Benefits for the Researcher
There are many risks and benefits that a researcher may have to endure during their study. The researcher is asking prisoners some tough questions about trauma they experienced as a child. This could lead to some potential risks. Some of the risks could include injury, illness, or discomfort. The researcher may even be put at risk for legal issues. A researcher needs to make sure that they are asking only questions that could help them with their research. They need to know when to stop asking questions if the prisoner is becoming aggressive or agitated so they don’t risk getting harmed. The researcher does have multiple benefits to their study. They are able to obtain the data they need to complete their study. They can help to improve future studies. Some studies may even help to educate the researchers, participants, and society. To help minimize the risks and maximize the benefits, the researcher may find it helpful to make sure there are adequate measures taken to protect the participant and society by finding standards of care, ensure the sample size is large enough to make a successful study, and have safeguards that protect the participants (UCI Office of Research, 2019).
Risks and Benefits for the Participant
There are always risks for a participant in any study. Some of the risks in this particular study could involve putting the participant through psychological stressors related to the trauma that they may have gone through as a child. Asking certain questions may make the participant feel like the researcher is invading their privacy. The researcher’s job is to make sure that the participant feels comfortable during every part of the study. While there are multiple risks for the participant, there can also be benefits. The participant may benefit by just talking to the researcher about their trauma and relationships. Some participants may have never talked to someone about what has gone on in their life. They may view the researcher as a sort of therapy for them. This may help to boost their self-esteem and self-confidence. Since the participant is in prison, the prison system may look at participating in the study as “good behavior” and make then eligible for parole or release from prison sooner.
Risks and Benefits for Society
Some of the risks for society are similar to the risks to the participant. Society may feel that the study is infringing on the participant’s privacy. Society may view the participants in a negative way because they are prisoners. Society may believe that the participants are part of the prison system because what happened to them as a child, which can be both a risk and a benefit. Society may be some what more understanding of the participant if they know what has happened in their past. Society can learn from the study and may be able to educate everyone on how to deal with the trauma instead of reacting in a negative way and putting them at risk for ending up in prison.
References
John Carroll University. (2020). STEP ONE: Before You Begin: INVESTIGATORS’ GUIDE. Retrieved April 5, 2020, from https://jcu.edu/research/irb/investigators-guide/step-one-you-begin
UCI Office of Research. (2019). Assessing Risks and Benefits. Retrieved April 5, 2020, from https://research.uci.edu/compliance/human-research-protections/irb-members/assessing-risks-and-benefits.html#assessment
Hello!
I really liked how you set wrote each section instead of one long paragraph like I did. But I really liked how you wrote the risks and benefits of the participant. I agree there are risks for the participant that it may just cause them to react in a negative way, may that be through aggression or another form of deflecting from talking about the experience. On the other hand I see the benefits of this kind of study as even if it may not help the participants but some can start to work through those issues and give great information to the public to help someone else identify that their childhood trauma can impact their adult lives. This is a good example of the benefit of the study being greater than the risk. I found a website that is actually taking these specific type of studies and their research to help society.
Adverse Childhood Experiences & Trauma-Informed Care Training. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.zeroabuseproject.org/education-training/on-site-trainings/adverse-childhood-experiences-trauma-informed-care-training/?gclid=CjwKCAjwg6b0BRBMEiwANd1_SOOhZcWblx4yHbh58S5JucC74NEh6VGy8VwR5eLzjce6aKE5bpf6gxoC2VAQAvD_BwE
Thank you for sharing the website with me! I work at an ER in Council Bluffs, IA and we participate in trauma informed care. It is really important to recognize and treat patients appropriately because not everyone has had the same childhood experiences. Trauma in your childhood can really impact what you do in adulthood in either a negative or positive way. I’m glad that there are many organizations out there that are trying to help.
Megan,
I definitely agree with that this type of research does require a full review due to the population that is being used. According to the Belmont Report, there should be 3 ethical principles for human subjects during research which are autonomy, beneficence, and justice. Unfortunately for prisoners, they don’t have much autonomy and therefore considered vulnerable.
Also, according to Human Protection Office from University of Pittsburg, parole boards do not take into account participation in research for inmates when deciding parole. Each prisoner is informed in advance about this and how it will have no effect on their parole. I think this can possibly make prisoners less likely to participate.
References:
University of Pittsburgh University Marketing Communications Webteam. “Research Involving Prisoners.” Research Involving Prisoners | Institutional Review Board | University of Pittsburgh, http://www.irb.pitt.edu/content/research-involving-prisoners.
“University of Southern California.” USC, oprs.usc.edu/irb-review/research-with-prisoners/#historic.
Thank you for sharing about the parole for the inmates. I had no idea that volunteering to participate in a research study did not have an effect on their parole. I figured that is would make it look like good behavior. I do agree that it would potentially make prisoners less likely to participate.