Informed consent, human subjects and interviewing

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Informed consent, human subjects and interviewing

• Dr. Carolyn M. Byerly
• Professor
• Department of Journalism

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Informed consent

• Research using human subjects requires their
  informed consent, which involves
• Prior approval by IRB for the research,
• Use of ethical methods in the gathering of data
• Obtaining each participants signature on a
  consent form that has the approved stamp and
  date from IRB
• Passing the CITI online certification (required
  for researchers)

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Characteristics of Human subjects research

• It is a source of first-person data in research
  that seeks subjective knowledge
• It is the oldest, most original way of gathering
  data,
• It involves the researcher in a more personal way
  than objective approaches (which separate the
  knower from the known), and
• It is interactional by nature.

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What is meant by interactional?

• Interactional an exchange between interviewer
  and human participant in a question-answer
  format.
• Interaction can be achieved through traditional
  survey method (use of a form that is completed),
• Online data gathering, or
• In a face-to-face interview.

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What is interview method?

• A qualitative
• interactional method of data gathering
• in which a trained researcher
• uses questions to obtain information
• for a specific purpose
• from human participants
• In face-to-face (or mediated) communication.

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Research value of interviews

• Human experience matters in the search for truth
• Knowledge is always personal
• The personal is always original and authentic
• The person is a source of useful data that will
  open his or her world and experience in it

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Ethical guidelines

• Interviews are a gift be appreciative
• Use your power wisely interviews are not an
  equal relationship
• Listen carefully and clarify when necessary
• Record everything you learn accurately
• Be respectful toward participants
• Stay within the purpose of the interview
• Stay within the bounds of approval by IRB.

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The IRB process

1. What is the purpose of the IRB process?
2. How do you apply?
3. What do you do if you have to change something in
   your methodology after you receive approval?
4. What kinds of things are in the consent form
   that participants sign?
5. What is the Collaborative Institutional Training
   Initiative (CITI) certification?

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Who has to take CITI?

• The training requirement applies to anyone
  conducting human subjects research activities at
  Howard. This means anyone working directly with
  human participants or with identifiable data or
  biological specimens for research purposes under
  Howard University auspices. Investigators,
  research nurses, coordinators, students,
  technicians working with identifiable data, and
  faculty advisors would all need to obtain CITI
  certification.
• http//www.howard.edu/research/compliance/irb/trai
  ning.html

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Citi certification

• Is found online at www.citiprogram.org/Default.asp
  ?
• Sociobehavioral researchers should take the
  social science course (among those offered)
• Certification is good for two years for Howard
  personnel and students
• Keep the electronic copy of your certificate
  (which is required with IRB paperwork).

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Getting IRB Approval

• Know who needs to sign off on application
• Write a clear, well-organized application
• Submit it to IRB at least a month before you plan
  to start work
• Do not begin interviewing till you get approval

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What to include in your IRB application

• FORMS ON LINE AT IRB WEBSITE.
• ELEMENTS REQUIRED
• Face page (signatures)
• Purpose significance
• Timeline for work
• Personnel (PI others)
• Method procedures
• Population to be sampled
• Selection of participants
• Risks benefits to participants
• Consent form (no header or footer)

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Changing something in the plan requires IRB
approval

• You must submit a letter to IRB if you
• Add or change personnel
• Change the research procedures
• You must receive approval for these changes.
• Also remember
• You must submit a close-out report.

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A successful interview begins early

• Always observe the steps associated with proper
  interview etiquette

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Proper interview etiquette

• Set appointment in advance
• Clarify purpose of interview
• Specify amount of time needed
• Answer participant questions about project
• Be on time
• Be friendly but professional

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Q. What is an interview schedule?

• Interview schedule is a researchers term for
  questionnaire.
• An interview schedule contains the questions that
  the researcher will ask participants in the
  study.
• The research schedule is well-organized, and
• May utilize several kinds of questions.

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Kinds of Questions

• Loosely structured (dialogue, open-ended)
• Q. What makes a good news program?
• Semi-structured (directed open-ended)
• Q. Which of the major news programs do you watch?
• Structured (closed-ended)
• Q. Which of the following radio stations to you
  listen to? list
• Some combination of the above (most are this)

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organizing the questionnaire

• Separate the questionnaire into
• Basic participant data (often best at end)
• Gender, race, age, education, etc.
• Substantive questions
• Personal experiences
• Opinions
• Expert knowledge

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Closed-ended questions

• Closed-ended questions have limited selection of
  choices, e.g.
• Do you have a high school diploma or GED?
• Yes____ No ____
• Please indicate your annual income
• ___ Over 100,000
• ___ 75,000-100,000
• ___ 50-000-75,000
• ___ 25,000-50,000
• ___ Less than 25,000
• Do you consider yourself
• a) Liberal b) Conservative c) Neither of
  these.

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Questions may include cues or probes.

• Question Why do you believe so few African
  Americans own radio and television stations?
• Probe 1 Is access to funds a possibility?
• Probe 2 Do you imagine most understand the
  application process?

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Conducting the interview

• Level 1 safe exchanges
• Thanks so much for coming, especially on such a
  cold day. Did you have far to drive?
• Level 2 requires trust
• I know you lost your broadcast license in 1999.
  Can you tell me more about the situation?
• Level 3 involves full disclosure
• How has loss of your business affected your life
  and career?

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Other guidelines

• Keep the interview on track
• Use probes or gentle reminders to bring
  participant back to the subject
• Let participants skip questions or end early
• This is an IRB requirement
• Keep clear, accurate records
• This protects you and your human subjects.

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Problems for discussion

• Problem 1
• More and more young professionals are using
  social media in their job searches, but you want
  to explore how HBCU students are doing this.
• QUESTION What is the best way for you to gather
  this information
• Face-to-face interviews?
• Survey monkey questionnaire?
• Focus groups?
• Something else?

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Problems for discussion (cont.)

• Problem 2
• Womens health networks use public awareness
  campaigns to encourage women over 40 to get
  regular breast exams for early detection of
  breast cancer. Your professor has just hired you
  to help conduct interviews with middle-aged women
  to learn whether they pay attention to prevention
  messages. You are still feeling sad over losing
  your grandmother to cancer.
• QUESTION How might you handle this situation so
  you can be effective in this research?

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Problems for discussion

• Problem 3
• Until recently, there has been widespread
  disapproval of same-sex marriage by many African
  Americans. You want to learn more about how this
  disapproval has affected the self-image of young
  gays and lesbians in the Black community. You
  know quite a few people in this demographic.
• QUESTION Is it ethical for you to include them
  in your study?

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Contact info

• Dr. Carolyn M. Byerly
• cbyerly_at_howard.edu
• 240-821-2859