On 8/21/2014 8:05 AM, Jill Walker Rettberg wrote:
But beyond the ethics board: what do you think about a methodology like this? Do you share my gut reaction or am I overreacting? Would you let a student do it? And what might be better ways for a student to do a small scale research project on this topic?
I agree that this proposal raises interesting questions. If circumstances - available time, course and program objectives, your comfort level and patience - allow then it may be worth letting this student go forward with this proposed project even if it may not get through your institution's ethics board or find any willing participants. I imagine that your student would learn quite a bit if they have to struggle through those issues e.g., why might an ethics board be uncomfortable with this line of research, why wouldn't anyone acquiesce to participating in this research. You may have to work a bit harder with this student to get through these possible barriers and come up with alternatives but it may be worthwhile work that meets your learning objectives. Kevin