Further Resources

The following resources may be useful in finding out more about different aspects of qualitative research methods, and the associated ethical considerations.

Ethics in Social Research  

• The Government Social Research profession have created guidance on the ethics of social and behavioural research, which includes some points specific to qualitative research.  
• The Social Research Association have collated information relating to ethics in social research more generally.  
• Journal article from The National Institute of Health discusses the need to develop specific qualitative ethics guidelines.  
• The British Psychological Society Code of Human Research Ethics. 
• In October 2009 Associate Professor Martin Tolich, Otago University, New Zealand gave a seminar on autoethnographic ethics. 
• Edqual paper on Ethics in Qualitative Research: Issues and Challenges.   
• Oxford Academic article discusses ethics of qualitative research: are there special issues for health services research? 
• London School of Economics blog on the practical and ethical considerations of carrying out qualitative research under lockdown.  
• GOV.UK Guidance on ethics in social research: the views of research participants.  

Qualitative Methods 

• The department for International Development have produced guidance on why, when and how to use qualitative research methods.  
• Harvard University produced a strategy for conducting interview-based research.  
• University of Oxford’s Research Ethics Committee have created further information on the use of ethnography.  
• The Norwegian National Research Ethics Committees have produced general guidance on qualitative research methods, with a focus on ethics.  
• Journal article with Further information on the ethical considerations relating to focus groups.  
• The Cabinet Office have produced guidance on ensuring quality in qualitative research, and a framework for assessing research evidence.  
• Citizens Advice have a how to run focus groups guide.  
• NHS England have produced a bite size guide to running focus groups for patient and public engagement.  
• GOV.UK Guidance on how to use an ethnographic study to evaluate your digital health product.  

Inclusivity 

• UK Statistics Authority guidance on ethical considerations related to the inclusivity of data for research and statistics.  
• UK Research and Innovation have produced guidance on research with potentially vulnerable people and research with children and young people.  
• The Equality Challenge Unit discuss issues of social responsibility and diversity within qualitative research.  
• ONS Crime Survey for England and Wales transformation research on the ethics of online data collection relating to sensitive topics.  

Consent 

• GOV.UK Service manual on getting informed consent for user research. 
• The British Psychology Society have produced a guide for researchers on conducting research with people not having the capacity to consent to their participation.  

Tools for Researchers 

• The Government User research community have produced guidance on researching emotionally sensitive subjects. 
• Manchester Metropolitan University have created a group of infographics for researchers wanting to create distress protocols. 
• University of the West of England produced a report which discusses disclosure control issues relating to qualitative data. 

Data Ethics and Legal  

• Office for National Statistics Data Ethics Policy.  
• Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) guide to the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR).  

Other interesting resources 

• UK Data archive Managing and Sharing Data: Best Practice for Researchers.  
• GOV.UK Service Manual on Finding participants for user research. 
• UK Research and Innovation guidance on Internet mediated research.  
• Government Statistical Service guidance on user-centred design approach to surveys.  
• Consent to research – ethical guidance summary – GMC (gmc-uk.org)