Question

A researcher submits a study to the IRB that proposes to evaluate a new after-school on-line tutoring program for middle-school students in a local school district examining the effect on student grades. She proposes to perform this assessment at the school that her children attend, because she is familiar with the school district. Students may use either their personal smartphone or computer to participate in the program. This study might be determined to be violating which principle of the Belmont Report?

Answer 1

Answer:

justice

Explanation:

This proposal would violate the principle of justice which requires that the benefits and burdens of research are equitably distributed and subject populations are not chosen because of convenience. Choosing a single school that her children attend might be viewed as providing a subject population of convenience. Evaluating the program in multiple schools across a school district could avoid this problem.

If the schools in the district have wide variations in household income, this study might eliminate students from less affluent families without access to internet service and electronic tools, failing to ensure that benefits and burdens of research are equitably distributed.

The principle of beneficence requires that risks are reasonable in relation to anticipated benefits. The principle of respect for persons requires that subjects understand that participation is voluntary and that they are provided detailed information about the study before giving consent to participate.