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Ethical Concepts for Research Involving People - image

Ethical Concepts for Research Involving People

WCS © Alissa Everett

 Watch this 30-minutes “Ethical Concepts for Research Involving People” to learn about these concepts around ethical research: obtaining consent, ways to protect participants, anonymity, confidentiality, and vulnerable people.

Check out the Resource Library to find documentation about the topics presented below.

Consent

Potential participants in social science research must be able to provide their Free, Prior, and Informed Consent before participating. It means that: ​​

  • Purpose, methods & intended use of research are explained to the participant
  • Risks & benefits discussed in a language that is understandable to participants
  • This should occur before research commences
  • Should ensure participants are not coerced into participation & that they are provided with sufficient information to make informed and independent decisions about whether to participate

People can withdraw consent at any time during the research. There may be cases when consent should be sought multiple times throughout the research project. For example, if more than one method is used or when disseminating results, especially if there are intellectual property rights or traditional ecological knowledge considerations.


Confidentiality/Anonymity

Confidentiality is “the state of keeping or being kept secret” (Oxford English Dictionary, 2019). It means that identifiable or personal data is collected (e.g., name, email address, postal address, phone number, health conditions) but is not shared. Confidentiality may specifically be requested by the respondent.

Anonymous means “not identified by the name,” and anonymity refers to “the condition of being anonymous” (Oxford English Dictionary, 2019). It means that no identifiable information is collected. Anonymity extends beyond names and addresses to photographs, voice recordings, GPS data, etc. it can be applied if requested if there is a risk to a participant by collecting identifiable information
                                           (e.g., studies of illegal behaviors).

 

Vulnerable Groups

Vulnerable populations include people with limited or compromised autonomy. When doing research with/about vulnerable groups, it is important to think about accommodations that might be needed to protect them.

Date: Tue, Feb 18

Time: 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM EST

REGISTER HERE

 

Overview

Social science data is essential for informed decision-making in conservation, yet collecting and managing this data can be complex, costly, and time-consuming and can seem particularly daunting for individuals lacking training in the social sciences.

Join the ConSoSci Partnership to learn how to streamline and scale social science data management across your field sites. This webinar will introduce two powerful data collection tools, KoBoToolbox and Survey123, to help you conduct your social science surveys, and share real-world case studies that demonstrate their practical applications while providing step-by-step guidelines to help you get started.

Why Attend?

  • Discover tools to enhance your data collection efforts.
  • Learn best practices for efficiently managing social science data.
  • Explore ConSoSci’s free, open-source tools and practical resources to help you get started.

Questions?

Contact the ConSoSci Technology User Task Force at technology@consosci.org.

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