Question

A researcher at a Canadian institution eligible to receive Agency funding wishes to determine the frequency of cannabis consumption among high school students in Canada. The researcher will create a website that includes a secure link to a survey for students wishing to participate in the research. For scientific reasons, only students who have already used cannabis will be invited to participate and respond anonymously to the survey (please answer all questions by YES or NO).

The researcher wishes to compare the frequency of cannabis consumption depending on the sex and gender of the students. Is such an analysis ethically acceptable?

Answer 1

The ethical acceptability of analyzing the frequency of cannabis consumption based on sex and gender is contingent on voluntary participation, fair subject selection, confidentiality, risk mitigation, and meaningful societal contributions. The research must adhere to stringent ethical protocols and be approved by a human subjects board.

Step-by-step explanation:

The ethical acceptability of a sociological study focusing on the frequency of cannabis consumption among high school students in Canada depends on several factors concerning the research ethics protocol. The following questions need to be considered: Will participation be voluntary? Will the selection of research subjects be fair? Will confidentiality be preserved? Will there be any risks to participants? Will the study yield important results for society? It is paramount that the researcher secures approval from a human subjects board, ensures anonymity, and collects data without steering subjects' responses to avoid unreliability. Moreover, it is essential to avoid any potential emotional harm to the participants and to have transparent and informed consent.An analysis that compares the frequency of cannabis consumption depending on the sex and gender of the students is ethically acceptable if all ethical considerations and guidelines are strictly adhered to. The key components to ethical research, which include voluntary participation, fair selection of subjects, protection of confidentiality, and mitigation of risks, need to be evaluated and put into practice to maintain the integrity of the research. Notably, collecting sensitive information such as drug use should be conducted with particular care to respect the privacy and emotional well-being of the participants.