Ethical Issues in Research
Domestic violence has become a serious threat to most families today. It involves an imbalance of power and control that can take the form of a battery, sexual assault, verbal abuse, reproductive abuse, control, emotional abuse or economic abuse. Considering the health problems associated with it, domestic violence has become a highly sought area of research in the nursing profession. When conducting such a sensitive research, safety and confidentiality are key ethical issues in the early stages of evaluation never to be overlooked. Participating in the research can contribute to more violence when the abusive partner discovers about it. The participants’ identity should also be protected if the research findings are to be publicly disclosed. Not only is informed consent necessary for the integrity of the research, but also ensures the participants’ safety, protection, and respect.
The potential risk of safety can be minimized by taking all possible measure to ensure the abuser does not know about the partner’s involvement in the research. This can be done by discreetly contacting the targeted women and interviewing the participants in a private setting (UN Women, n.d.). Confidentiality can be observed through such acts as using a different name when publicly talking about a victim of domestic violence. The researcher should also be trained to conduct the research in such a manner that will avoid re-victimizing the participants. It is essential to help ensure a participant’s protection from more harm. This can be done by helping the victim to draft a safety plan that will help them know what to do in the event of potential abuse. In the case of occasional abuse, the researcher should endeavor to see the victim through a criminal justice system.
Information such as the purpose of the research, alternatives to participation, the evaluation being voluntary, the benefits of the research to both the individual and the society, the possible risks to the participant, and a statement indicating the victim’s right to confidentiality and to withdraw from the research at will ensures an informed consent.
The benefits of domestic violence study outweigh the risks. Opening up to someone is proven to be emotionally relieving. The researcher can also propose evidence-based practices to deal with the situation especially if it is life-threatening. Results from the findings can also be used to empower other victims and survivors of the same.
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