I can't agree with the definition of a subject as simply *someone* you intervene with or *someone* whose private information you have.
that is the federal definition though as cited on the umich irb and many others.
A subject should be a *unique someone* in one's research, a single person and not a single persona (unless of course your research design specifically addresses this issue of multiple personas). While the opinions expressed in a blog like Jeremy's can be attributed relatively safely to him, opinions in a forum or behaviors in an online world cannot be attributed to any single person. In my book, failing to convincingly address the issue of web anonymity is sloppy research. A signed consent form goes some way (but not all the way) in addressing this very real problem.
which problem? that your research needs identifiable individual subjects? in that case, you are very likely going to have the ethics issues noted earlier, which will then be resolved in some way like a consent form.
just my two euro-cents.
George Floros, MD MSc Medical research methodology, Thessaloniki , Greece. _______________________________________________ The Air-L@listserv.aoir.org mailing list is provided by the Association of Internet Researchers http://aoir.org Subscribe, change options or unsubscribe at: http:// listserv.aoir.org/listinfo.cgi/air-l-aoir.org
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Jeremy Hunsinger Information Ethics Fellow, Center for Information Policy Research, School of Information Studies, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (www.cipr.uwm.edu) Words are things; and a small drop of ink, falling like dew upon a thought, produces that which makes thousands, perhaps millions, think. --Byron