Subject: Research Methods - I

BS Psychology: 5th semester

Instructor: Mashal Sherin

TOPIC: HUMANISTIC ELEMENTS

 Definition:
Humanistic elements of research refers to the vital components that a researcher keeps in
mind so that the basic rights of the participants are not violated.
 Basic Humanistic elements:
There are three basic humanistic elements:
1. Informed Consent
2. Anonymity
3. Privacy
1. INFORMED CONSENT
Informed consent refers to the process by which researchers working with human
participants describe their research project and obtain the participants’ consent to
participate in the research based on their understanding of the project's methods and goals.
o Purpose of Taking Informed Consent:
It’s one of the founding principles of research ethics. Intent is that human participants can
enter research freely (voluntarily) with full information about what it means for them to take
part, and that they give consent before they enter the research.
o Informed Consent Acc to APA
The Ethics Code of the American Psychological Association describes informed consent, in
part, as follows:
• Psychologists inform participants about

(1) the purpose of the research, expected duration and procedures;

(2) their right to decline to participate and to withdraw from the research once
participation has begun;

(3) the foreseeable consequences of declining or withdrawing;

(4) reasonably foreseeable factors that may be expected to influence their

willingness to participate such as potential risks, discomfort or adverse effects;

(5) any prospective research benefits;

(6) limits of confidentiality;

(7) incentives for participation; and

(8) whom to contact for questions about the research and research participants'
rights.

• Informed Consent for Recording Voices and Images in Research Acc to APA:
Psychologists obtain informed consent from research participants
prior to recording their voices or images for data collection unless
 • (1) the research consists solely of naturalistic observations in public places,
and it is not anticipated that the recording will be used in a manner that
could cause personal identification or harm, or
• (2) the research design includes deception, and consent for the use of the
recording is obtained during debriefing.
o Process of Taking Informed Consent:
Consent should be obtained before the participant enters the research. The
minimum requirements for consent to be informed are that the,
“Participant understands what the research is and what they are consenting to”.

Two distinct stages to a standard consent process for competent adults:

Stage 1 (giving Stage 2 (obtaining consent):

information):

the researcher reiterates the

the person reflects on the terms of the research, often
information given; as separate bullet points or
clauses;

they are under no Participant agrees to each

pressure to respond to the term (giving explicit consent)
researcher immediately. before agreeing to take part in
the project as a whole.

o Forms of Informed Consent:

Informed consent can be taken in form of:
 Oral informed consent
 Written informed consent
 Written Consent:
This type of informed consent is used where:
 Reading and signing forms is not problematic.
 The research is complex or has multiple stages.
When researcher first approaches the research participants,
detailed written information regarding the research aim, purpose, risks,
benefits, process, rights of participants is provided. After reading and
understanding the detailed information, participant voluntarily decides to
participate in study. Upon their willingness, they sign the consent document.

Signed consent form acts as extra proof that the terms of consent
have been understood. However, it is important for the researcher to
understand that reasonable amount of time must be provided between the
provision of information and obtaining consent, to consider whether to
consent and to ask questions, though the time given depends on the project
design, the context of the research and the participants.
 Oral Consent
 An oral consent process is where researcher and participant have a
conversation to give information and obtain consent. There is no paper
form to sign.
It is normally used:
• where literacy is a problem,
• where there are cultural or political concerns with signing
contract-like documents,
• where either the researcher and/or the participant could be
put at risk by existence of a paper record,
• where time for consent is limited, eg a chance interaction
between researcher and participant (although you should
not use an oral process merely to correct poor planning of
research).
 Important Consideration For Informed Consent
• it is important for the researcher to understand that reasonable
amount of time must be provided to participant between the
oral provision of information and obtaining consent, to consider
whether to consent.
• When obtaining oral consent, researcher must ensure consent
process must be recorded either using a recording device (eg
audio recorder if you are conducting an interview) or, if
participants do not agree to audio recording or if using/keeping
audio records is unsafe, by using a researcher record of oral
consent template.

CLASSIFICATION OF CONSENT

Consent Parental consent Assent Verbal consent Short form

1. Consent:
Consent is an easily understandable written document that documents potential participants
consent to be involved in research and describes the rights of enrolled research participants.
An adult subject, who is age 18 years or above and have adequate decision making ability
are allowed to give capable of giving permission to participate in a research study can
provide consent.
2. Parental Consent:
Parental consent is taken when minors (participants below age 18) are involved in study. In
such cases parent/guardian must sign the document.
3. Assent:
Assent refers to a variation of consent in which an individual who does not possess
competence to give consent gives affirmative agreement for participation in research.
 However, it is mandatory to obtain consent from legally authorized care taker. Assent can be
used for:
• Children, suffering from psychological illness, dementia
• Mandatory for subjects aged 7-17 years

4. Verbal consent
This form contains all elements of informed consent, however, it is verbally read, and verbal
agreement of participants is taken.
5. Short form
This type is used when there is language barrier and IRB approved consent is orally
translated in subjects native language.

 BASIC ELEMENTS OF INFORMED CONSENT

Study objectives, Procedures, Duration, Risks, Benefits, Alternative options,

Contact Additional costs

Confidentiality of information for any Compensation if and compensation
records, participant applicable, for research injury
questions, if applicable.

1. Statement that the study involves research;

2. Explanation of the purpose of research and the expected duration of the subject's
participation;
3. Description of the procedures to be followed and identification of any procedures that are
experimental;
4. Description of any foreseeable risks or discomforts to the subject, an estimate of their
likelihood and a description of what steps will be taken to prevent or minimize them;
5. Description of any benefits to the subject or to others that may reasonably be expected
from the research. Monetary compensation is not a benefit;
6. Statement describing to what extent records will be kept confidential, including a
description of who may have access to research records;
7. For research involving more than minimal risk, an explanation and description of any
compensation and any medical treatments that are available if research subjects are
injured; where further information may be obtained and whom to contact in the event of a
research-related injury;
8. Information on the amount of remuneration/compensation, if any, that will be provided to
subjects;
9. A statement that participation is voluntary and that refusal to participate or discontinuing
participation at any time will involve no penalty or loss of benefits to which the subject is
otherwise entitled.

2. ANONYMITY
Definition:
Anonymity refers to data collected in surveys in which the respondents are de-identified and
all possible identifying characteristics are separated from the publicly available data. An
idealized view of anonymity is that a person will never be traceable from the data presented
about them.
 Anonymity in Research:
 Anonymity in psychological research means that the data collected from participants is
confidential and cannot be traced to any particular individual. This is typically done by
 Assigning numbers to research participants and
 Not asking for specific identifying information like name or address.

• What if Data is Not Anonymous:

• Data you collect in person (e.g., interviews, video-recording, etc.) can never be
"anonymous." If you record a list of codes associated with identifiers (e.g., names),
those data are not anonymous.
• Similarly, If a combination of indirect identifiers (e.g., gender, race, age, etc.) could
identify a specific individual, particularly with small samples, you should not call your
study data anonymous.
• When data are not anonymous, participants may experience risk if a breach of
confidentiality occurs and their identifiable information is released without their
permission.
3. Privacy
"Privacy" refers to an individual’s control over the extent, timing, and circumstances of
sharing personal information.
Researcher must protect subjects’ privacy during study recruitment and data collection.
Researcher must store data securely to prevent identification of individuals.
Researcher cannot not collect data (words, behavioral observations) without permission if
an individual has an "expectation of privacy" (the reasonable expectation that no
observation or recording is taking place).