A researcher submits a study to the irb that proposes to evaluate a new after-school on-line tutoring program for middle-school students in a local school district examining

General
1

a researcher submits a study to the irb that proposes to evaluate a new after-school on-line tutoring program for middle-school students in a local school district examining the effect on student grades. she proposes to perform this assessment at the school that her children attend, because she is familiar with the school district. students may use either their personal smartphone or computer to participate in the program. this study might be determined to be violating which principle of the belmont report?

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A researcher submits a study to the IRB that proposes to evaluate a new after-school online tutoring program for middle school students in a local school district, examining the effect on student grades. She proposes to perform this assessment at the school that her children attend because she is familiar with the school district. Students may use either their personal smartphone or computer to participate in the program. This study might be determined to be violating which principle of the Belmont Report?

Answer: The study might be determined to be violating the principle of “Justice” from the Belmont Report.

The Belmont Report identifies three core principles:

  1. Respect for Persons: This principle requires that individuals be treated as autonomous agents and that those with diminished autonomy be protected. It emphasizes obtaining informed consent and respecting the privacy and confidentiality of participants.

  2. Beneficence: This principle involves the obligation to minimize harm and maximize benefits. Researchers must ensure that the benefits of the research outweigh the risks to the participants.

  3. Justice: This principle deals with the fair distribution of the benefits and burdens of research. It emphasizes that no one group should be unfairly burdened or exclusively benefit from the research.

In the case of the proposed study, the principle of Justice may be at risk due to several reasons:

Conflict of Interest:

  • The researcher is proposing to conduct the study at the school her children attend. This situation can lead to a potential conflict of interest.
  • Such a relationship can raise questions about the fairness in participant selection and whether the research findings could be biased.

Fair Distribution:

  • Conducting the study at a school that the researcher’s children attend raises concerns about whether the selection of the site is based on fair and equitable considerations.
  • Ensuring that the benefits of the tutoring program are extended to all students in the district rather than just those attending a particular school would better align with the principle of Justice.

Selection of Subjects:

  • Justice requires careful consideration in how subjects are selected to avoid any group being subjected to more risks or reaping more benefits than others.

Addressing the Issue:

To address these potential violations, the researcher could:

  • Find an alternative venue that does not present a conflict of interest.
  • Ensure that the selection of the study site and subjects is based on equitable criteria.
  • Obtain input from an independent body or third party to ensure that the study design meets ethical standards.
  • Make efforts to include a diverse range of students from different schools within the district to avoid bias and ensure the fair distribution of the program’s benefits.

By doing so, the researcher would mitigate concerns related to the Justice principle and enhance the ethical integrity of the study overall.