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“It’s not black and white”: Public health researchers’ and ethics committees’ perceptions of engaging research participants online

Sharinne Crawford (Judith Lumley Centre, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia)
Stacey Hokke (Judith Lumley Centre, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia)
Jan M. Nicholson (Judith Lumley Centre, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia) (Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia) (Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia)
Lawrie Zion (Department of Communications and Media, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia)
Jayne Lucke (Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia) (School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia)
Patrick Keyzer (La Trobe Law School, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia)
Naomi Hackworth (Judith Lumley Centre, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia) (Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia) (Parenting Research Centre, Melbourne, Australia)

Internet Research

ISSN: 1066-2243

Article publication date: 3 December 2018

Issue publication date: 7 January 2019

875

Abstract

Purpose

The internet offers an opportunity for researchers to engage participants in research in a cost-effective and timely manner. Yet the use of the internet as a research tool (internet research) comes with a range of ethical concerns, and the rapidly changing online environment poses challenges for both researchers and ethics committees. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the key ethical issues of using the internet to recruit, retain and trace participants in public health research, from the perspectives of researchers and human research ethics committee (HREC) members.

Design/methodology/approach

This study employed a qualitative design using semi-structured interviews with eight public health researchers and seven HREC members in Australia to explore the key ethical issues of using the internet to engage research participants.

Findings

The study identified commonalities between researchers and HREC members regarding the utility and ethical complexity of using the internet to recruit, retain and trace research participants. The need for guidance and support regarding internet research, for both groups, was highlighted, as well as the need for flexibility and responsiveness in formal ethical processes.

Originality/value

This research contributes to the understanding of how the internet is used to engage participants in public health research and the ethical context in which that occurs. Supporting the ethical conduct of internet research will benefit those involved in research, including researchers, HRECs, organisations and research participants.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

This study was jointly funded by the Transforming Human Societies Research Focus Area Grants Scheme 2015, and the College of Science Health and Engineering, La Trobe University. The funders did not contribute to the research process. Authors Sharinne Crawford, Stacey Hokke, Jan M. Nicholson and Naomi Hackworth were funded by the Australian Communities Foundation (Coronella sub-fund).

Citation

Crawford, S., Hokke, S., Nicholson, J.M., Zion, L., Lucke, J., Keyzer, P. and Hackworth, N. (2019), "“It’s not black and white”: Public health researchers’ and ethics committees’ perceptions of engaging research participants online", Internet Research, Vol. 29 No. 1, pp. 123-143. https://doi.org/10.1108/IntR-07-2017-0278

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited

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