Research Advisor
Liberty University
1971 University Blvd
Lynchburg, VA 24515
Dear Research Advisor,
Ethical Dilemma
I am writing to notify you of an ethical dilemma that I am being faced with
in my current research project.
I am studying educational challenges when working with special needs
students. I was confronted by a young adult with severe learning
difficulties who demands to be included in the research project along with
fellow members of the class, even though her parents have already
refused on her behalf. The young adult is 18 years old.
I believe the young adult in question should be allowed to participate in
the research project. Even though the young adult may have severe
learning difficulties, she is legally is an adult at 18 years old and she
should be shown respect by allowing her to participate in the research as
outlined in the APA Principle E: Respect for People's Rights and Dignity
(Jackson, 2016).
To further support the APA principle E, Section 8.02 Informed Consent to
Research, from the APA Code of Conduct provides an outline to obtaining
consent from an adult. As a participant, she would be informed about the
purpose of the research, expected duration, and procedures, her right to
decline to participate and to withdraw from the research once
participation has begun, the foreseeable consequences of declining or
withdrawing, reasonably foreseeable factors that may be expected to
influence her willingness to participate such as potential risks, discomfort,
or adverse effects, any prospective research benefits, limits of
confidentiality, incentives for participation, and whom to contact for
questions about the research and research participants' rights. She will
also be provided an opportunity to ask questions and receive answers
before moving forward with the research (American Psychological
Association, 2017).
I would also like to mention section 3.01 Unfair Discrimination, from the
APA Code of Conduct. This section relates to unfair discrimination based
on age, gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, culture, national origin,
religion, sexual orientation, disability, socioeconomic status, or any basis
proscribed by law (American Psychological Association, 2017). The APA
principle that supports this section is principle D: Justice. Fairness and
justice entitle all people to access and benefit from the contributions of
psychology and to equal quality in the processes, procedures, and
services being conducted by the research (Jackson, 2016).
Thank you for your attention to this matter. Your guidance has been
invaluable, and I look forward to receiving your answer.
Sincerely,
Research Student
References
American Psychological Association. (2017). Ethical principles of
psychologists and code of conduct (2002, amended effective June 1, 2010,
and January 1, 2017). https://www.apa.org/ethics/code/
Jackson, S. (2016). Research Methods and Statistics: A Critical Thinking
Approach (5th ed.). Cengage Learning.
