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Students' vulnerability in educational research
Summary
Dental education research involving students raises ethical concerns. This study examines potential student vulnerability in learner-centred curricula and proposes recommendations for ethical research practices.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Dental Education Research
- Ethics in Research
Background:
- South African dental institutions adopted learner-centred curricula, requiring educators to change teaching styles.
- Educators, now researchers, use student data for evidence-based research, previously not requiring Institutional Review Board (IRB) review.
- Concerns exist regarding student vulnerability due to power dynamics between students and lecturer-researchers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the ethical implications of educational research in dental institutions.
- To assess potential student vulnerability in learner-centred educational settings.
- To propose recommendations for ethical conduct in educational research involving dental students.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative analysis of ethical considerations in dental education research.
- Review of existing literature on student vulnerability and informed consent.
- Discussion of power differentials in the lecturer-researcher-student relationship.
Main Results:
- Educational research using students may create vulnerabilities, impacting their autonomy.
- Informed consent processes may be compromised by institutional power structures.
- Existing ethical review frameworks may not adequately address educational research specifics.
Conclusions:
- Dental students can be a vulnerable population in educational research.
- Ethical guidelines must be adapted to protect students' rights and autonomy.
- Institutions should implement robust ethical oversight for educational research involving students.
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