Research in Personnel and Human Resources Management - PDF

Critically reflect upon how quantitative research
provides a valuable contribution to the
development
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Why do we need to protect research participants?
The researcher undertaking quantitative study needs to protect the research participants
because it is one of the ethical principles. It is considered as a fundamental tenet of ethical
research. While carrying out a study, there are a number of risks that participants may be
exposed to. The participants may be at risk of physical harm, psychological distress, social
disadvantage, invasion to their privacy and anonymity (MacDougall and et.al., 2015). Therefore,
it is important for the researcher to minimize the risk of harm and protect the participants. This
would involve protecting the anonymity and confidentiality of participants, obtaining informed
consent from them, avoiding use of any deceptive practices in research etc. protecting the
participants is also important because the research should be based on principles of justice,
respect and beneficence. By respecting people, a researcher recognizes the rights of the
participants. Failure to protect the participants can lead to ethical issues.
Are some people more vulnerable than other?
There are certain individuals and populations that are considered to be more vulnerable as
compared to others. This is because they become vulnerable due to certain circumstances.
Children are considered to be open to more harm and hence are regarded as vulnerable.
Institutionalized persons are more subject to coercion (Stahl, 2016). Further, women who have
small children are also considered to be more vulnerable as they may be less reliable due to
conflicting demands. Persons with mental or developmental disorders may also be vulnerable in
research settings. As a result of this, the people are more vulnerable as compare to the others.
What are the potential risks of taking part in research?
The potential risks of taking part in a research depend on the nature of study. There is risk
of minor discomfort in clinical studies. However, if a study requires surgery, the participant may
be at risk of developing physical complications. There may be risks if the new intervention
which is being studied is not better than standard therapy. Also, there may be risks of side effects
of a new intervention or medication that is being studied (Ninet, 2012). Another potential risk of
taking part in a research may be that a person may feel uncomfortable if he or she is inquired
about a sensitive topic. Loss of time is also a risk that can be encountered while taking part in a
study. It is a distressing activity for the participants to recall a traumatic event. As a result of this,
the participants may be at risk of experiencing some level of suffering.
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