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.