QUALITATIVE RESEARCH WITH COUPLES AND FAMILIESs: Six Ethical Issues

Abstract

Ethical issues in family research are complex and generally under-recognised. A distinct ethical challenge for family research is the shift required from a focus on the individual to a focus on the couple or family: One person's disclosure might reveal extremely sensitive or otherwise uninvited information about a partner or other family members. This chapter sets out six ethical issues that arise in conducting qualitative research with couples or families: (i) interviewing couples and family members; (ii) recruitment and logistical challenges; (iii) dealing with sensitive topics; (iv) respecting confidentiality and privacy; (v) protecting the identities of individuals and families; and (vi) special ethical issues in conducting research with children and young people. Suggestions for mitigating the risks of harm in this private and sensitive area of research are offered. Show more