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Ethical dilemmas in research on Internet communities
Sarah Flicker1, Dave Haans, Harvey Skinner
1TeenNet Project, Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Qualitative Health Research
|January 17, 2004
Summary
This study addresses ethical challenges in online health research, particularly with internet discussion boards. It offers practical guidelines for ethical conduct in internet communities, focusing on participant enrollment and data privacy.
Area of Science:
- Digital Health
- Research Ethics
- Online Communities
Background:
- Increasing use of internet data in health behavior research.
- Lack of established ethical guidelines for online research, especially concerning discussion boards.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine ethical practices in a youth-focused online health research program.
- To develop practical guidelines for navigating ethical dilemmas in internet community research.
Main Methods:
- Case study of a youth health website and message board.
- Analysis of ethical predicaments in participant enrollment, risk management, and data linking.
- Application of ethical principles: autonomy, nonmaleficence, justice, beneficence.
Main Results:
- Identified key ethical challenges in online research settings.
- Demonstrated a framework for negotiating ethical practices.
- Provided practical solutions for common ethical dilemmas.
Conclusions:
- Need for clear ethical guidelines in internet-based health research.
- Ethical principles are crucial for responsible research in online communities.
- The study offers a model for ethical conduct in digital research environments.
Keywords:
Biomedical and Behavioral Research