University Research Essay: Vulnerable Populations in Dementia Research

This essay provides a reflection on the ethical considerations involved in conducting research with vulnerable populations, specifically focusing on individuals suffering from dementia. The author highlights the importance of ethical guidelines, particularly concerning informed consent and assent, given the potential lack of decision-making capacity in this population. The essay references the article by Slaughter et al. (2007) and discusses the challenges of obtaining consent and the significance of recognizing dissent. It outlines strategies for researchers to uphold ethical principles, such as stopping data collection if distress is observed and developing project-specific protocols. The author emphasizes the need to balance the inclusion of people with dementia in research with the protection of their rights and well-being. The essay underscores the significance of ethical practices in ensuring the validity and integrity of research involving vulnerable individuals, and that the objections of the people will be indicated by looking at their frustration and discomfort.

Running head: REFLECTION ON RESEARCH WITH VULNERABLE POPULATION
Reflection on research with vulnerable population
Name of the student
Name of the University
Author note

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REFLECTION ON RESEARCH WITH VULNERABLE POPULATION
The venerable population that have been identified in the article that needs ethical
consideration are the people in Canada who are suffering from dementia. There are around
250,000 Canadians who are suffering from dementia and I think that this article is very
valuable in throwing light on the ethical needs of the vulnerable population (Slaughter et al.,
2007). According to me, this article has been successful in pointing out the heightened need
to include the people who are victims of dementia in the process of research.
The ethical issues that are raised while conducting research with the vulnerable group
is related to the fact that these potential participants lack capacity of consenting that can give
rise to complications in the research process (Samus et al., 2017). According to me, this can
cause the research to be questioned and the article has very pertinently talked about
distinction between that of informed consent and that of assent. I think that this article has
been successful in laying down the definitions of dissent and assent in relation to the people
with dementia. This article has been successful in stating the fact that the objections of the
people will be indicated by looking at their frustration and discomfort.
According to me, there are certain ethical risks that can be faced when an individual
conducts research with the people suffering from dementia. The people who have dementia
lack the ability of the process of coherent decision-making and this can raise ethical issues
while conducting the research with these people.

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REFLECTION ON RESEARCH WITH VULNERABLE POPULATION
The ethics are raised while doing the research with the people suffering from dementia as
personhood of the individual who have got altered abilities is undermined in the event of
informed consent excluding him or her.
There are several strategies that can be made use of by the researcher for ensuring the
fact that principles pertaining to ethical research have been maintained. In the event of the
dissent of a participant he is removed from study though informed consent might have been
taken from a third party that is authorized (LINDOSO, 2017). According to me, this article
has rightly pointed out that data collection should be stopped in the event of any sign of
distress being expressed by the person afflicted with dementia. I think that the removing of a
participant when he is dissenting and identification of need for understanding concept
pertaining to dissent can act as useful measures for safeguarding the validity of the research
process.
According to me, the strategies that have been identified in the article are sufficient
for upholding core principles in relation to ethical research. The article has brought out that
exploring the circumstances that surround distress at the time of data collection can help the
researcher in maintaining the validity of the research. The development of project specific
protocol that is relevant to the contextual factors can prove to be a useful method for
understanding dissent from research participant who have got limited capacities in relation to
decision making (Kloas, 2017).

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REFLECTION ON RESEARCH WITH VULNERABLE POPULATION
References:
Kloas, E. (2017). The Australian unemployed workers union: Helping the vulnerable. Green
Left Weekly, (1123), 11.
LINDOSO, D. P. (2017). VULNERABILITY AND RESILIENCE: POTENTIALS,
CONVERGENCES AND LIMITATIONS IN INTERDISCIPLINARY
RESEARCH. Ambiente & Sociedade, 20(4), 127-144.
Samus, Q. M., Davis, K., Willink, A., Black, B. S., Reuland, M., Leoutsakos, J., ... &
Johnston, D. (2017). Comprehensive home-based care coordination for vulnerable
elders with dementia: Maximizing Independence at Home-Plus—Study
protocol. International journal of care coordination, 20(4), 123-134.
Slaughter, S., Cole, D., Jennings, E., & Reimer, M. A. (2007). Consent and assent to
participate in research from people with dementia. Nursing Ethics, 14(1), 27-40.