Ethical considerations

Ethical considerations

In Action Research

REFERENCES

• Burns, A. (2015). Action Research. In Paltridge, B. & Aek Phakiti. (2015). Research Methods in Applied Linguistics. Bloomsbury.

A fundamental ethical question:

How does the design of the research work towards...

• educational improvement?

• more effective outcomes for students?

• the empowerment of teachers?

There are at least three important ethical issues to be considered in AR:

• Whose permission or consent is needed?

• Who will be affected by the research?

• Who should be told about the research when it's completed?

Multiple Choice

Whose permission or consent is needed?

• Students

• Colleagues

• Parents

• School authorities

• All the stakeholders

Poll

Might students be affected by the research?

• Yes

• No

Who will be affected by the research?

• Action researchers need to maintain vigilance about the possible consequences of their research on participants. 

• No harm, risk or disadvantage should happen.

• Explanation and communication about the purpose of the research should be foregrounded. 

• In AR it is important to be aware of the power differences inherent in the educational situation, and how they might affect participants behaviors and reactions.

Whose permission or consent is needed?

Two types of permission :

· Permission from the researcher’s University, school board , district or school.

·  Informed consent from other participants such as colleagues and students.

All stakeholders and participants have a right to information about the purpose procedures possible effects and how the research will be used. 

Participants also need assurances of :

-anonymity

-voluntary participation

-withdraw from the research without penalty . 

This is important in any approach where researchers could be accused of ‘experimenting’ on their students and 'threatening' their educational achievement. 

Multiple Select

Who should be told about the research when it is completed?

• Participants

• School authorities

• The reseacher's university

• Colleagues

• Parents

Who should be told about the research when it is completed? 

Participants need to know that the outcomes of the research will be fed back to them for their input . 

Conclusions

• Conducting AR ethically involves confronting continual decisions, challenges and choices.

• These are not always self-evident because of the dynamic and shifting nature of the processes. 

An ethical orientation is fundamental to the reflective and democratic spirit of AR and plays a central role in focusing and strengthening its quality, trustworthiness and credibility. 

Poll

Do you think you have considered the ethics of your research?

• Yes

• No

• Partially

Open Ended

Do you have any doubt about ethics in AR? Write it here.