Case Study Review

Demographic data needs to be collected in a way such that subjects can not be identified, especially if responses contain information that is sensitive or about illegal activities. For example, in New Hampshire, due to the relatively small number of minorities in the population, detailed demographic data including race, could potentially identify unique individuals.

Subjects are being asked to report on behaviors that are illegal. This type of information must be collected, recorded, and stored with the utmost care to protect the identity of the individual and confidentiality of the data, especially as it could be subpoenaed. If the data is not adequately protected, the social and legal risks to individuals could be very high.

Are undergraduate students appropriate for conducting focus group sessions with high school students where illegal behaviors might be discussed? The researcher (university professor) is responsible for ensuring that research personnel are adequately trained to perform their duties, and that they carry out their duties in an ethical and responsible manner. At a minimum, the undergraduates involved should receive instruction in issues of protecting confidentiality and privacy, and in conducting focus group sessions. Ideally, the researcher should be present to assist when needed.

Focus groups are not the most appropriate method to evaluate a drug prevention education program for high school students where illegal activities might be discussed. Confidentiality of information and anonymity are hard to maintain as students may discuss what was said outside the focus group. If this occurs and subjects disclose illegal behaviors, there are potentially high social and legal risks for subjects.

Participation in a research study must be voluntary; subjects (students) can not be required to participate. If the principal wants to require students to participate in the drug prevention education program, it must be reconfigured to be a part of the school curriculum versus a research project. If the UNH researcher wants to collect evaluative data from subjects as part of a research project, he must get consent for each student to participate from their legal representative (parent/guardian) first, and then the assent of each student. If either the legal representative or student declines to participate, the student can not be forced to participate in the research project (data collection).

Even if a child’s legal representative (parent/guardian) has given consent for him/her to participate in a research study, the child (student) must be offered the opportunity to accept (assent) or decline to participate. If a child declines, h/she can not be forced to participate in the research study.

Assignment of a passing grade for a class dependent upon participation in a research component is coercion. Subjects in research projects must be able to choose to participate (or not) free from coercion. If the principal wants to require students to participate in the drug prevention education program, it must be reconfigured to be a part of the school curriculum versus a research project. If the researcher wants to collect evaluative data from subjects as part of a research project, the assignment of a passing grade can not be dependent upon participation in the research. In addition, students not participating in the research component must be offered alternative activities.

As students’ illegal behaviors might be discussed in the focus groups, and the recordings could be subject to forced disclosure (i.e., subpoena), audiorecording is not prudent.