Why Is Informed Consent Important In Research?

3.3. ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS
Ethics refers to a system of principles that relates to considerations about choices and actions (Fouka & Mantzorou, 2011). It boils down to the dynamics of decision making concerning what is considered right and wrong. Ethics plays an important role in regulating and guiding human behaviour in different social settings. It is also especially relevant and applicable within the field of research. Therefore, it is important to ensure that we protect the dignity and rights of participants (McMillan & Schumacher, 2001). For the purpose of this study, we adhered to the following ethical principles as specified in the Ethics and Research Policy of the Faculty of Education at the University of Pretoria (2014).

3.3.1. Informed

This is owing to the notion that an individual has a right to participate knowingly, voluntarily and intelligently without being forced. Similarly, an individual’s autonomy needs to be protected all the time. In this study, informed consent and/or assent is already given, as the parents were made aware right at the onset of their involvement with the training facility that case studies can be used for training and/or research purposes and have already signed a form agreeing to the data in the case studies being used for training and/or research.

3.3.2. Confidentiality and anonymity
This principle relates to the management of private or personal information (Nieswiadomy, 2007). Confidentiality was maintained by ensuring that client’s case files are not linked to individual’s name. Instead, we assigned numbers to each case file. This will help protect the participants’ identity.

3.3.3. Harm or risk and

However, how one deals with such matters is more important than the actual issue at hand. We made it a point that conflicts between researchers and participants (the case study files) were resolved in such a way that protects both parties. For example, if a researcher receives a file of a person known to them, they gave the file to another researcher to search for the required data.

3.3.6. Beneficiation
This principle rests upon the notion that research should serve as a process that seeks to promote betterment and empowerment in our communities (Beauchamp & Childres, 2001). We believe that this study will add value to our communities by giving them a broader perspective on how they can view and respond to diagnosis and referrals made at training facilities. The training facility itself can also benefit in the sense that it may revisit the training and community work it does.

3.3.7. Deception and trust
It is important to develop mutual-trust relationship with participants when conducting research. This is normally achieved by explaining the purpose and value of the study. In this study, fortunately, we already have parents’ consent and we need not explain the purpose and the value of the study, as they agreed that data may be used for training and research purposes. Additionally, as we only use secondary data, we do not have to make contact with the clients