Eleanor Finch
Research is a systematic investigation designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge. Engaging in research involves a systematic and methodical process of seeking, gathering, and analyzing data to gain new insights or to test existing theories and hypotheses. Some of the activities that constitute engagement in research include obtaining informed consent, conducting research interviews, and performing systematic data collection and analysis.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Nature of the activity | Systematic and methodical process of seeking, gathering, and analyzing data to gain new insights or to test existing theories and hypotheses |
| Examples of activities that constitute engagement in research | Conducting a survey, obtaining informed consent, and conducting research interviews |
| Examples of activities that do not constitute engagement in research | Writing a blog post, watching educational videos, and attending a seminar |
| Ethical requirements | Obtaining informed consent, ensuring subjects are fully aware of the research and its potential risks and benefits |
| Regulatory requirements | Holding or obtaining an applicable OHRP-approved FWA |
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What You'll Learn
Obtaining informed consent
The informed consent form must be written in easily understandable language and minimise the possibility of coercion or undue influence. Researchers must provide sufficient time for participants to consider participation and ensure they are competent to consent. The exchange of information can occur via face-to-face contact, mail, telephone, video, or fax, and participants should have ample opportunity to ask questions and seek clarification.
In certain circumstances, such as medical emergencies, obtaining informed consent may pose practical challenges. Additional protections may be required to ensure that consent is truly voluntary and not influenced by the urgent need for medical care. In such cases, consent may be obtained from a legally authorised representative or surrogate.
In the case of vulnerable populations, such as military personnel or children, there may be conditions that favour coercion or undue influence. To ensure voluntariness, certain requirements, such as conducting recruitment sessions in the absence of superiors, may be implemented. Obtaining informed consent from pregnant women also requires special considerations, with the inclusion of the father's consent depending on various factors.
Overall, obtaining informed consent is a critical process in research, ensuring participants are fully informed and voluntarily agreeing to participate. Researchers must provide comprehensive information, facilitate understanding, and promote voluntariness throughout the process.
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Conducting research interviews
When conducting research interviews, it is crucial to establish clear objectives and define the specific goals you wish to achieve. This step guides the development of targeted questions that align with your research goals. Interviews often involve open-ended questions to encourage in-depth responses and explore topics beyond what quantitative surveys can measure.
To conduct effective research interviews, careful planning is necessary. This includes identifying the target audience and determining the participant criteria, such as age, gender, job titles, or specific behaviours. For existing customers or clients, in-house databases can be utilised for easy access to contact information. However, for non-customers, acquiring contact lists may involve purchasing from secondary sources, utilising sales databases, or partnering with market research companies.
Pre-planning and scheduling interviews are respectful of the participant's time and increase their willingness to engage. It is also essential to ensure interviewers are adequately trained and familiar with the interviewing procedure to maintain the quality of the results. Interviews can be conducted in person, over the phone, or through online platforms, each offering unique advantages and considerations.
Research interviews provide an opportunity to delve into the mindsets and beliefs of participants, making them a powerful tool for exploring sensitive or complex topics. By actively engaging with participants, researchers can gather valuable data that contributes to the broader objectives of the research project. Obtaining informed consent is also a fundamental ethical consideration, ensuring participants fully understand the research and its potential risks and benefits before agreeing to participate.
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Systematic investigation
The process of systematic investigation can include observational studies, interviews, or survey studies, group comparison studies, test development, interventional research, and analysis of identifiable data or biospecimens. For instance, conducting surveys involves the collection and organisation of data, which can be used to support or refute a hypothesis.
To engage in systematic investigation, one might determine a research question, review previous studies, establish group roles, write a research proposal, and perform primary and secondary research.
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Data collection and analysis
Data Collection
Data collection involves gathering data from various sources using systematic methods. It is essential to ensure that the data collected is accurate, relevant, and comprehensive. Researchers may employ different methods for data collection, including interviews, surveys, experiments, observations, critical appraisals of texts or artefacts, and more. For instance, studying coffee drinkers' preferences may involve conducting surveys or observing customer behaviour in coffee shops.
Data Analysis
Data analysis is the process of examining and interpreting collected data to derive meaning and answer research questions. It involves transforming raw data into useful information and knowledge. This step often requires summarising and interpreting data to identify patterns, themes, or trends. For instance, qualitative data analysis may involve grouping data into themes, while quantitative data analysis may involve statistical analysis with specific levels of measurement.
Ethical Considerations
It is important to note that data collection and analysis are subject to ethical considerations. Researchers must obtain informed consent from participants, ensuring they are fully aware of the research, its risks, and benefits. This is a fundamental ethical obligation and a pivotal element of the research process.
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In conclusion, data collection and analysis are integral steps in research, helping to answer questions, test hypotheses, and make informed decisions. They are intertwined processes that require careful planning, ethical considerations, and the ability to adapt as new insights emerge.
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Ethical requirements
Informed Consent
Obtaining informed consent is a fundamental ethical obligation. Researchers must ensure that participants are fully aware of the purpose, methods, risks, benefits, and alternatives to the research. Participants should understand how the research relates to their own situation or interests and make a voluntary decision about their participation. Informed consent ensures that individuals willingly agree to participate and are treated with respect throughout the research process.
Risk Assessment and Minimization
Research involving human participants should carefully consider potential risks, which may be physical, psychological, economic, or social. Researchers have a responsibility to minimize these risks and maximize potential benefits. The research question should be important enough to justify any risks or inconveniences to participants. An independent review panel can help assess the risk-benefit ratio and ensure the ethical acceptability of a study before it begins.
Inclusion and Equality
Specific groups, such as women or children, should not be excluded from research opportunities without a valid reason. Researchers should aim for equal representation and avoid discrimination. The selection of participants should be based on scientific rationale and susceptibility to risk rather than bias or prejudice.
Ethical Review and Oversight
All research involving human participants should be reviewed by an ethics committee to uphold ethical standards. Organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO) have established committees, such as the Research Ethics Review Committee (ERC), to ensure that research meets the highest ethical standards. These committees follow guidelines such as the World Medical Association's Declaration of Helsinki and international ethical guidelines for biomedical research.
Participant Protection and Welfare
Researchers should prioritize the protection and welfare of participants throughout the planning, implementation, and follow-up of studies. Participants who volunteer to take part in research should be treated with care and respect. Their privacy and confidentiality should be maintained, and they should be free to withdraw from the research at any time without repercussions.
Adhering to these ethical requirements is essential to safeguard the rights and well-being of participants and maintain the integrity of the research process. Researchers must carefully consider the potential impacts of their work and strive to minimize harm while maximizing the benefits to society.
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Frequently asked questions
Engaging in research involves a systematic and methodical process of seeking, gathering, and analyzing data to gain new insights or to test existing theories and hypotheses.
Examples of activities that constitute engagement in research include conducting surveys, obtaining informed consent, and conducting research interviews.
Activities such as writing a blog post, watching educational videos, and attending a seminar are informative but do not necessarily involve the systematic data gathering and analysis that are part of a research process.
Obtaining informed consent is a fundamental ethical obligation for researchers. It ensures that subjects are fully aware of the research, its risks, and benefits before deciding to participate.
The research process typically involves establishing a hypothesis, empirical testing, analysis, and validating or revising the hypothesis based on the evidence collected.
