Question

Which of the following on-line research strategies raises the most concerns regarding the ethical principle of respecting the autonomy of research subjects and the corresponding federal regulations requiring informed consent?

A) A linguist copies portions of postings on a political blog to document the use of expletives, abbreviations, and the use of irony in the postings.
B) A researcher posts a notice on an open on-line support group for interracial adoptees asking anyone who would be interested in being interviewed for her study to contact her.
C) A researcher observes the communications in an open support group without announcing her presence. She is interested in observing how long members participate and how the membership shifts over time.
D) A researcher proposes to join a moderated support group for cancer survivors posing as a survivor. She plans to insert comments to see how the members respond.

Answer 1

The on-line research strategies that raises the most concerns regarding ethical principle of respecting the autonomy of research subjects and the corresponding federal regulations requiring informed consent are: C) and D).

Step-by-step explanation:

C) A researcher observing an open support group whithout announcing her presence is an alteration of both respecting the autonomy of the research subjets and also doesn´t consider the regulations requiring informed consent.

The subjects should know they are being subjtect of a research, to see if they agree or not. The researcher by not annouincing her is not respecting their autonomy to decide.

D) If a researcher poses to be a survivor from cancer when not, to be able to get closer to people that are; she is violating both the respecto for autonomy on the research subjects and also she is braking the informed consent.