Course Information - Structure

Because ethical issues for researchers are invariably embedded in the methodological context being utilized in a study, this training workshop is designed to provide experience in resolving a variety of issues in a broad range of methodological contexts. Ethical content (e.g., competency, confidentiality) and methodological contexts (e.g., surveys, administrative data analysis) will be addressed in concert to provide a practical training experience simulating real world experience.

This course combines general background lectures and small/large group work using vignettes and other exercises. Participants will be provided a forum for debate and directed discourse that ultimately will lead to discussion of several strategies for addressing and minimizing confidentiality and privacy conflicts in conducting research. The course will emphasize a practical process that participants can take home and use for resolving ethical problems in their own research communities.

Another learning opportunity is a panel discussion on inclusion/exclusion. The panel consists of persons representing diverse perspectives on inclusion, such as mental health consumers participating in research protocols, parents with children participating in studies, persons of color who participate as subjects, and researchers/grant reviewers trying to address inclusion issues. The panel is designed to provide a rich discussion forum of ethical issues from a variety of roles and perspectives, including those not often considered.

The culmination of the course is an IRB exercise on the final day. This allows participants to synthesize the ideas and skills developed over the first three days of the training through participation in a simulated IRB review process. Participants will critically analyze various actual IRB applications and share their reviews and recommendations, as well as suggestions for improving the study designs and materials.