Research Activity: Ethical Considerations and Data Security

This assignment outlines the ethical considerations involved in a psychology research project. It details the proposed activities, including the use of questionnaires administered to university students aged 16-18, and emphasizes the importance of obtaining informed consent from participants. The assignment addresses potential risks, such as physical and psychological distress, social/economic risks related to data leakage, and legal issues, and proposes strategies for mitigation. It emphasizes data privacy, confidentiality, and security measures, including password-protected storage and locked storage of consent forms. Furthermore, it explains how the purpose of the research will be communicated to the participants and asserts that no other ethical issues are anticipated. The assignment highlights the importance of adhering to ethical guidelines to protect participants and maintain the integrity of the research.

1. Description of user activities within the project
3.1 Outline any proposed activities involving (interviews, observation, focus groups,
questionnaire etc. Include how participants are selected, included or excluded?)
Participants will be asked certain questions related to the research. It will be like a
questionnaire given to them that they need to fill up.
3.2 Where will the proposed activity/activities take place?
The questionnaire will be given to the university students within the university.
3.3 Who do you expect your participants to be? What will the age ranges of the participants
be? What are you arrangements for dealing with vulnerable people, e.g. seeking consent
of their parents/carers?
The participants of the research are students between the ages of 16-18. There is a consent
form that is to be signed by the participant before participating in the research.
3.4 What will the participants be asked to do?
The participants will be asked to answer certain questions related to the research.
3.5 What potential risks do the activities pose to you or your participant/s and how will they
be overcome?
There are several risks associated when a research has to be conducted. Following are the risks:
1. Physical Risks: A way of research may affect the participant and involve physical risk like
injuries and illness. To avoid such risks in research, a researcher must be aware of
participant’s health.
2. Psychological Risks: Sometimes a research subject may result disturbing to some
participants resulting to anxiety, discomfort and other mental problems. So researcher must
take care of the questions or content showing to the participant.
3. Social/Economical Risks: A participant truthfully needs to answer every question even if it
is related to their personal and private lives. There is a high risk of data leakage that could
risk their social lives. Researchers must provide high grade of confidentiality while storing
data. They should make sure that no data is leaked that could risk someone’s social and
economic life.
4. Legal Risks: A research may include violation of laws that may result in legal issues.
Researchers must not violate any law in order to stay safe from this risk.
3.6 How do you intend to manage the privacy and confidentiality of users’ data?

All the users participating in the research will submit their details to us. We are going to keep it
in the secure by adding security password to the document. Also the document will be
protected against getting copied as well as corrupted by keeping it in private laptop.
3.7 How will you maintain the confidentiality of data resulting from your research activity?
Research documents including consent forms and data form will be kept in a locked cupboard
safely. Moreover electronic data will be stored in password protected files and computers.
3.8 How do you intend to secure the informed consent of your participant/s? (See template
forms at end of this document)
Since the signed documents are the physical documents that are need to be protected. Since
these signed forms from participants will be kept in locked cupboard.
3.9 What do you intend to tell the participant/s about the purpose of your research?
The participants will be told that the purpose of research is educational and high level of
confidentiality will be maintained.
3.10 Are there any other potential ethical issues raised by your proposed research
activity? If so, please detail them.
No, there seem to be no other issues and risks related to the proposed research activity.