critical analysis of ethical issues relating to practitioner-based research practices in a learning institution with pupils with a disability and those without

critical analysis of ethical issues relating to practitioner-based research practices in a learning institution with pupils with a disability and those without

The main focus of the research is to expand knowledge, discover the truth, and provide critical information for planners. Studies that involve people with different disabilities are essential to revealing issues requiring prompt actions that are used in the evaluation of services and other vital programs. During a research process, ethical issues arise and need to be addressed by the researcher before, during, and after the research process. However, trying to look for all ethical concerns is almost not possible, especially when researching an institution that has both students with disabilities and those that are not disabled. In this context, this paper will delve into a critical analysis of ethical issues relating to practitioner-based research practices in a learning institution with pupils with a disability and those without.

Ethical Issues

This research will be conducted in Good News primary school, where the researcher is a general TA for the two years 3. In his regular class, one boy is autistic. In the other year 3 grade, two boys have a personality disorder. The school is a two-form entry. The classes are small. The researcher helps in mathematics interventions for year 3, and once a week helps with handwriting for years 5, 4, and 3.

Children in lower classes in Good News Primary School are considered to be vulnerable members of society. Besides, some of the pupils suffer from disorders such as autism and personality disorders. These conditions require specialized care during and after research. On starting practitioner based research, one needs to consider the gatekeepers involved in the research program. Access to children in primary schools is controlled by gatekeepers (McDonough et al. 2019). As a result, the researcher ought to follow the laid down procedures and obtain clearance from the government to address child protection concerns before the research. To ensure this procedure is followed, the Good News primary school should put in place guidelines to ensure the rights of the children are not violated during the research process. For instance, the learning institution may create a requirement that the research must be conducted during classroom time so that the playing time of the children is not affected. When carrying out such investigations, the researchers and other relevant persons should not interfere with children’s’ playtime or other essential activities. In this way, the researcher may prepare well to ensure regular programs of the children are not influenced by the research (Burns, Fu, and Podlog 2017). Moreover, the researcher must have the consent of the Head Teacher of Good News Primary School as it is essential for the school to provide needed support for the researcher.

Obtaining consent from the guardians and parents is very critical for a child’s safety and protection (FH Cate, 1997). For this reason, the researcher will need to have a verbal or written consent from parents and school following regulations set by BERA (2018). Parents may wish that the published artwork be attributed to their children. However, this move may raise questions about the confidentiality of the collected information. In most instances, getting written consent from some families may be difficult, which may affect the research process (Borgers et al., 2000). Besides, the learners in the Good News primary school maybe articulate with spoken language but lack good reading and writing skills due to personality and autistic disorder. As such, obtaining consent from this group using a written consent form may pose a challenge, hence the need to include guardians and parents.

Further, participants may be reluctant to provide written consent since some activities of primary school children are considered illegal. Thus, the learners or their guardians may fail to provide truthful information. The researcher should continue to deal with the issue of consent of the children during practitioner-based research, as this approach can be critical in overcoming the problem. If the researcher feels that refusal to participate in the study may cause problems among the children, the investigator needs to offer counseling before leaving.

The study should delve into children living with a disability. Some of the strategies to focus on the minors include listening to these children and making informed decisions depending on the report obtained from them. In this way, the needs of the children will also be addressed. Notably, there are children with and without disabilities in Good News primary school. The researcher must ensure that these two groups of children express their opinions. According to the policy of the Good News primary school, a researcher needs to take all views of the children into perspective, regardless of their disabilities. However, children who have personality disorder and autism may not understand the research process as transparent as children with no disabilities. As a result, the introduction needs to be stated in a clear language that all students participating in the research process will understand (Sullivan et al. 2016). Further, parents may be engaged in the research to help in easing the process, as this approach will be needed through a consent letter that must be signed by them as in guidelines provided by BERA (2018).

Before commencing research, the researcher is required to notify participants that they have a right to withdraw from the study even before completing the guidelines provided by BERA (2018). During the signing of the consent letter, parents will provide their names, emails, and the names of their children, which will allow for easy withdrawals as long as they have contacted the gatekeeper or the Headteacher of Good News primary school on the matter. Therefore, the researcher must appreciate all the willing participants for their time during the research process.

Mooney, Simmie, and Edling (2019) state that during a research process, the names of the children must be kept secret and anonymous. Besides, the researcher must ensure high confidentiality of the information that is obtained during the process Mooney et al. (2019). This action is essential in ensuring that the information participants provide does not get into the hands of malicious users. Furthermore, anonymizing children taking part in the research will be vital in explaining the research to the children who are used their real identities. However, the researcher should also encourage children to engage in the research work to provide pseudonyms as this move will discourage the loss of confidentiality in the process (Mooney, Simmie and Edling, 2019).

Furthermore, the investigator needs to provide information on the need for confidentiality for the children so that they could easily understand the issue. Further, the researcher must assure children the different ways that will be used in ensuring the confidentiality of the information during and after the research. In the course of the study, discretion must be guaranteed. Nonetheless, if a child decides to divulge something vital to the researcher, there will be no breach of their secrecy since no one will know the name of the child who exposed the information. As a result, a researcher must make plans on how to deal with issues of confidentiality. However, some cultural factors safeguard this issue; for example, children may talk about a matter that raises concerns, but there may be avenues that could be used in reporting and addressing it.

Similarly, sometimes there may be no avenue systems that can protect children effectively, as those in authority may have contrary views on the protection of children. Unwanted cases have been known to occur in states where children protection policies are not followed, an example of such cases include violation of children’s rights. Therefore, a researcher may have a limited number of avenues to report abuses if they are raised by children in Good News primary school. The researcher must best think about the best way of dealing with these issues before embarking on the research. International organizations such as the PLAN International, UNICEF, and Save the Children can also provide essential information on dealing with challenges in children’s rights, UNICEF (1989).

Due to heightened awareness on the rights of children in the course of a research process, participatory investigation practices have risen. The approaches are essential in addressing some ethical concerns that may affect the project. Cases have been recorded where children go through emotional discomfort during the research (NSPCC, 2018). As a result, a researcher needs to consider the pros and cons related to participatory research practices for children in Good News primary. Therefore, the researcher will consider children friendly methods that are not only appropriate for their age but also for the minors who are facing different kinds of disabilities in the institution (Morley et al. 2018). Also, there is a need to look at the impacts of research on the daily lives of children participating in the study.

When conducting research, the investigator may need to consider rewarding for the participation of children. Therefore, a researcher needs to put this fact into consideration, for example, providing monetary benefits or gifts to children as a way of being grateful for those who have participated in the research process. However, this action must be carried out with the consent of parents so that no problem may arise during the research process. NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide 18-1 – Participant Support Policies (Chapter II, Section C.2.g (v))

Ethical issues may also arise during the dissemination of findings(Friesen 1989). The primary audience for the study will be other researchers, parents, other teachers, guardians, and government institutions. However, the researcher must ensure that children engaged in the research process should understand and see the report, which they had participated in the research. As a result, the ethical issues will arise on how the information will be disseminated to children in the Good News primary school. Also, the investigator needs to look at the best format and verbal presentations by which the information will be delivered to the children. These vital matters should be considered during the time research is being commenced. Therefore, the information will be disseminated through the use of charts and verbal presentations, as these approaches present the best strategies for teaching children in Good News primary school.

The use of visual data has been on the rise in the contemporary world. Researchers take photos of children during the process. In this context, there is a need for putting sensitive thought into these data and negotiating carefully with the parents for images, as they might be taken by malicious users (Palaiologou 2016). As a result, young children might face embarrassment encounters in the future due to the pictures taken during the research process. The researcher may solve this problem by pixelating the faces of children after they have been granted a written and verbal consent from the stakeholders.

Conclusion

Overall, several issues need to be addressed when conducting a critical analysis of the ethical problems relating to practitioner-based research within a school, especially one with special needs students and learners without a disability. Children in Good News Primary School are considered to be vulnerable members of society due to their age and, thus, need to be closely monitored during a research process. As a result, the researcher’s responsibility is to ensure that ethical considerations are factored in the course of the investigation to ensure that no issue arises during and after the completion of the research. Good News primary school lacks ethical guidelines that can be used when researching; however, the learning institution has standard policies that stipulate the role of staff members. These guidelines have been influential in instilling critical values on every staff member. Besides, one needs to understand that constant communication with the gatekeeper will be vital in enhancing the research process in the school.