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)