Authors:
Nouhad J. Rizk
1
and
Elias M. Choueiri
2
Affiliations:
1
Notre Dame University, Lebanon
;
2
Lebanese University; Lebanese Association for Public Safety; WSO Liaison Officer to the United Nations, United States
Keyword(s):
Ethics, Qualitative research, Internet-based research.
Related
Ontology
Subjects/Areas/Topics:
Enterprise Information Systems
;
Formal Methods
;
Human Factors
;
Human-Computer Interaction
;
Information Systems Analysis and Specification
;
Methodologies and Technologies
;
Operational Research
;
Physiological Computing Systems
;
Security
;
Simulation and Modeling
Abstract:
As a key form of communications technology, the internet has created new methodological approaches for social science research. This study focuses on moral issues created by information technology for qualitative research environments. The primary concern is with ethical analysis and legal issues and how both are applied to, although not limited to, issues of privacy, intellectual property, information access, interpersonal communication, moral and civil rights, responsibility and liability, and professional codes as well as some social implications of technology. The Internet is now exposed to a growing number and a wider variety of threats and vulnerabilities. Moreover,
Internet-based research raises several ethical questions and introduces new ethical challenges, especially pertaining to privacy, informed consent and confidentiality and anonymity. This study aims to highlight the main ethical issues in electronic qualitative research and to provide some guidance for those doing
or reviewing such research. While recognizing the reservations held about strict ethical guidelines for electronic qualitative research, this study opens the door for further debate of these issues so that the social science research community can move towards the adoption of agreed standards of good practice. In addition, it suggests that empirical research is desirable in order to quantify the actual risks to participants in electronic qualitative studies.
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