Suggestions

Tips for Helping You Obtain Ethical Clearance

The Research Ethics Board checks to see that certain criteria regarding ethical research are met. These are described below. Moreover, in a typical research questionnaire, the introduction is often the most important part of the questionnaire, containing information that establishes that certain key ethical criteria are met. The introduction must be written out, even if it is to be read verbally to the participant.

Criteria Used to Determine Ethical Acceptability

Each of these must be addressed in the Application for Ethical Acceptability.

Benefits outweigh risks

• Potential for harm to participants low/benefits high.
• Risks include: physical harm, psychological harm, injury to reputation or privacy, and any breach of the law.

Participants asked to give fully informed and voluntary consent.

• No evidence or potential for coercion.
• Full opportunity for participant to assess risk.
• Withdrawal from research without penalty or risk of any kind.

Participants guaranteed anonymity and confidentiality or given details of exceptional conditions and asked for consent.

• Any limitation of anonymity or confidentiality is fully disclosed.

Researcher or supervisor is competent in the area of research proposed and is fully aware of the policy.

• Researcher has made an effort to avoid discrimination and biases in the research practice and in the interpretation of findings.

Assurance that all research personnel will be made aware of the provisions of the Ethics Policy and that the supervisor accepts responsibility for the ethical conduct of those being supervised.

The end use of the data is clearly specified.

Key Points in Creating a Good Introduction

• Identify yourself (at least by first name). This builds trust between you and the respondent.
• Identify the organization for which you are conducting the survey.
• State the purpose of the survey.
• If applicable, describe how the survey results will benefit the respondent.
• If possible, guarantee confidentiality.
• If possible, guarantee anonymity.
• Explain that participating in the survey is voluntary; that they may choose not to answer any (or specific) questions; and that they may choose to stop participating at any time.
• Tell the respondent how long the questionnaire is (number of questions and/or length of time). This is particularly important in a phone survey.
• Ask for permission to proceed with the survey! 

 

An Example of a Good Introduction

The purpose of this survey is to collect information about _____________.  The information collected in this study will be used to _______________________________.

For any information that you provide, confidentiality is assured and the results will be reported anonymously.  Your participation in this study is voluntary and you may choose not to answer any of the questions provided; however, your opinions are important to the success of this study. 

This survey is being conducted under the guidelines of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP).  If you have any questions, please to contact the RDC FOIP Coordinator at (403) 342-3273.

On-Line Surveys
Information on On-Line Surveys