Ethical issues in the qualitative researcher--participant relationship.
Qualitative research poses ethical issues and challenges unique to the study of human beings. In developing the interpersonal relationship that is critical to qualitative research, investigator and participant engage in a dialogic process that often evokes stories and memories that are remembered and reconstituted in ways that otherwise would not occur. Ethical issues are raised when this relationship not only provides qualitative research data, but also leads to some degree of therapeutic interaction for the participant. The purpose of this article is to examine some of the controversies inherent in the researcher's dilemma when this occurs, set within the context of a nursing caring theory (Swanson), and the International Council of Nurses Code of ethics for nurses, which provides guidance on global nursing practice.
Eide
Phyllis
P
Washington State University Intercollegiate College of Nursing, Spokane, WA 99205, USA. eide@wsu.edu
Kahn
David
D
D032781:Codes of Ethics; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D004645:Empathy; D028663:Ethical Theory; D006379:Helping Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent / Q000941:ethics / Q000523:psychology; D007392:International Council of Nurses; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000523:psychology; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations / Q000941:ethics; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research / Q000941:ethics* / Q000458:organization & administration; D009742:Nursing Theory; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D010344:Patient Advocacy / Q000941:ethics / Q000523:psychology; D010687:Philosophy, Nursing; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012107:Research Design; D012108:Research Personnel / Q000941:ethics* / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology; D035842:Research Subjects / Q000523:psychology; D035844:Researcher-Subject Relations / Q000941:ethics* / Q000523:psychology; D012944:Social Support; D035862:Vulnerable Populations / Q000523:psychology