Ethical Considerations

3.5.1 What are ethical considerations?

Ethics are defined by Cavan as ‘a matter of principled sensitivity to the rights of others’ (1977, p. 810, cited in Cohen et al. 2000, p. 56). When undertaking research, it is necessary to ensure that the relationship between the researcher and the participants is characterised by a sense of trust and respect towards their dignity and integrity (Simons 2009, p. 98). Researchers are required to achieve a balance between ‘the demands placed on them as professional scientists in pursuit of the truth, and their subjects’ rights and values potentially threatened by the research’ (Cohen et al. 2000, p. 49).

In educational research, the ethical issues that arise can be particularly complex and subtle, because of the involvement of children in it. Even though the consideration of these issues is a demanding and often puzzling process for the researcher, it cannot be omitted. Lindsay affirms that this consideration will enhance research in the long run (2010, p. 111, italics in original).

Cohen et al. present a conspectus of the main ethical issues that a researcher has to consider while conducting her fieldwork (2000, p. 51).

a. Informed consent refers to the procedures in which individuals decide whether they want to be part of the research provided that:

 They are competent and mature enough to do so. In the case of children, their responsible others make this decision for them.

 They volunteer to take part knowing that any exposure to risks is undertaken knowingly and voluntarily.

 They fully understand the nature, procedures and potential risks of the research (Diener and Crandall 1978, cited in Cohen et al. 2000, p. 51, my emphasis).

b. Access to the institutions in which the research is conducted, and acceptance by those whose permission is needed, are important ethical considerations prior to the commencing of the project (Cohen et al. 2000, p. 51). In order to achieve these, the researcher has to exhibit her ‘credentials as a serious investigator’ (Cohen et al. 2000, p. 51).

 Sensitivity of information, which relates to how personal the data collected are.

 Setting being observed, which concerns the degree of privacy of the setting where research unfolds.

 Dissemination of information, which has to do with the ability to identify the participant based on the information she has provided (Diener and Crandall 1978, cited in Cohen et al. 2000, p. 61).

d. Anonymity ensures that the identities of the participants are not revealed in any way and that any data are kept confidential (Frankfort-Nachmias and Nachmias 1992, cited in Cohen et al. 2000, p. 61).

e. Confidentiality means that, even if the researcher is in a position to make a connection between the data and the identity of a participant, she does not make this public (Cohen et al. 2000, p. 62).

3.5.2 How ethical considerations were implemented in my research

The ethical considerations listed above were implemented in my research as follow: a. I sought informed consent before I embarked on the research project. I asked

for informed consent in writing from the parents and, in the case of the PS students, from the Cyprus Ministry of Education and Culture. All of them gave their informed consent, except for the parents of three YT children. The head teacher of the PS and the president of the organisation responsible for the YT gave me their informed consent verbally. I explained the nature, purpose and demands of my research project to my students in the first session, and made sure that they understood them.

b. Access to the institutions and acceptance from the people in charge were established through the permission I was granted by the parents, the head teacher of the PS, the president of the organisation responsible for the YT and the Ministry of Education. I explained that the research was undertaken as part of my doctoral degree, that its findings were subject to publication and that some video and audio recording were required. Permission to do so was given by late January 2011 for the YT, and by early February 2011 for the PS. An Ethical Approval form was also obtained by the University of Warwick in November 2010.

c. The participants were informed of their right to privacy and what this entailed.

 The research area of well-being was bound to look for sensitive information from the participants. I was careful not to ask questions that made them feel uncomfortable. Disclosure of any sensitive data occurred only if the participants took the initiative to do so.

 The YT and PS settings observed were both public. I conducted 4 interviews with parents, an interview with a PS teacher and 2 interviews with the previous PS head teacher at their homes. An interview with a PS parent, one with a drama practitioner and the one with the General Co- ordinator of Health Education Programmes were conducted at their work places. All of these interviews were conducted in private settings only after the interviewees’ invitations.

 Dissemination of information and non-traceability were established through the use of pseudonyms for all the children. The adults

responses are offered in anonymity. I have used the real name of the critical friend after seeking her permission.

d. I ensured anonymity by not asking for the names of the participants in the completion of questionnaires, and by keeping any data confidential.

e. I reassured the participants that the findings of the research would remain confidential in the sense that the connections between data provided and their identities would not be made public.