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Ethical considerations for research conducted with human participants in languages other than English
Author(s) -
Eaton Sarah Elaine
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
british educational research journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.171
H-Index - 89
eISSN - 1469-3518
pISSN - 0141-1926
DOI - 10.1002/berj.3623
Subject(s) - informed consent , research ethics , engineering ethics , interpretation (philosophy) , intermediary , human research , sociology , public relations , psychology , political science , computer science , medicine , business , alternative medicine , pathology , marketing , engineering , programming language
Considerations for conducting ethical research with human participants in languages other than English are addressed to some extent in regulatory and guiding statements for researchers, but in ways that are minimal or vague. In this article, I examine guiding documents for research ethics from four countries: the UK, Canada, Australia and the USA, with a view to analysing how the issue of research in other languages is addressed. Specific attention is paid to four key aspects of research as it relates to language. The first is informed consent. This includes a discussion of how written forms may not be the most appropriate method to ensure consent is informed. The second aspect of language is that of translation and interpretation, including budgetary implications for research. Third, the use of intermediaries such as (but not limited to) translators and local contacts is considered. Finally, considerations for knowledge mobilisation and dissemination of findings are explored. The article concludes with recommendations for researchers, graduate supervisors and research ethics boards.