Qualitative research methodology (QRM) has gained trustworthiness and robustness in almost all disciplines. Among many, a thick description of the case(s) studied is an ultimate goal. However, there are significant ethical challenges in providing such a “thick description” in every stage of the process, from conducting research to interpreting findings to reporting results. Performing and reporting qualitative research in an ethical manner and understanding how research practices affect the well-being of scholars and participants is of high value for both researchers and research participants.
For instance, researchers may face ethical questions or challenges in recruiting research participants, developing appropriate research interview questions, protecting the anonymity of participants, interpreting data, or avoiding ethical misconduct (fabrication, falsification and plagiarism). They may also face complex ethical dilemmas when dealing with sensitive topics, applying reflexivity about their own positionality, visiting dangerous areas for collecting data, and communicating with participants, among many other issues.
In this Article Collection, we are interested in articles reporting ethical challenges in conducting qualitative research and the strategies/techniques that can help address them. These can include one or more of the following sub-topics or any other ethical issues relevant to qualitative research:
- Ethical challenges in selecting and developing data collection tools (appropriate research interview questions)
- Ethical challenges in interpreting qualitative data (appropriate theory)
- Ethical challenges in storing data and protecting the anonymity of participants
- Ethical challenges in dealing with sensitive topics
- Ethical challenges in visiting risky areas for collecting data
- Ethical challenges in exercising the appropriate level of reflexivity
- Ethical challenges in exercising the appropriate level of sensitivity
- How ethical challenges can affect the well-being of researchers
- How ethical challenges can affect the well-being of participants
- The relationship between research ethics and research integrity
The Collection accepts original research, review articles, and short communications.
* **
Dr. Abdulghani Muthanna is an Associate Professor at the Department of Teacher Education, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Norway. His research is widely published in international journals and books. With interdisciplinary expertise in the development and reform of comparative and international (teacher) education in international contexts, his research interests include education policy, qualitative research, research ethics and integrity, research supervision, teaching philosophy, teachers’ agency, pedagogy, professional identity development, and lifelong collaboration in several international contexts. He is the leader of TEDUPO: Teacher and Educator Professionalism research group at NTNU.
Dr. Saba M. Qadhi is an Assistant Professor and Director of the Core Curriculum Program at Qatar University. She has spent more than two decades in roles related to teaching, leadership and administration, supervision and/or research in different academic settings. Her research is published in international journals and books and her research interests include professional identity development, qualitative research, teacher agency, and teaching self-efficacy.
Dr. Youmen Chaaban is a Research Associate Professor at the Educational Research Center at the College of Education, Qatar University. Her research interests include teacher professional development, professional agency, and teacher leadership. Dr. Chaaban has over 40 research publications in international journals, including original research conducted in Lebanon and Qatar. She has also been actively engaged in a number of teacher education programs and professional development programs, where she has held the positions of head of department, curriculum coordinator, and educational consultant.
