Nurse researchers conducting qualitative studies
need to be acutely aware of the unique ways ethics,
both nursing and research ethics, affect all phases of
the qualitative research process. Decisions about
what to study, which persons will be asked to participate,
what methodology will be used, how to achieve
truly informed consent, when to terminate or interrupt
interviews, when to probe deeply, when therapy or
nursing care supersedes research, and what and how
case studies should be documented in the published
results are all matters for ethical deliberation. This
article seeks to examine some of the less obvious, yet
very important, ethical concerns that nurses face
throughout the research process and build a common
core of values that can lead to meaningful process
and socially responsible research results. (Index
words: Ethics; Informed consent; Qualitative research;
Research ethics) J Prof Nurs 11:45-48, 1995.
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