SW 300 Chapter Notes - Chapter 3: Computer Mouse, Michael Williams (Geographer), Social Security Number
Document Summary
Research participants should never be called subjects. Increasing the sum of knowledge is a worthy aim, but the client, or research participant (rp), must not be harmed in the process. We are not in the business of committing lesser evils for the sake of greater goods. Not harming our clients, by commission or omission, is a cardinal rule of research. All universities have ethics committees or institutional review boards (irbs: so do many large social service programs. All written communications must be in simple language that all rps can understand. No rp may be bribed, threatened, deceived, or in any way coerced into participation. They may decide at any time to withdraw from the study without penalty. The study"s results must be available to them afterward. Deception: one-way mirrors, hiding your identity both are unacceptable: except in very special circumstances, but very, very rarely. Threats: outright threats are rare; a perceived threat is just as bad.
