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Service-Learning Research Primer (PDF)
Sample Ethical Dilemmas
Whereas research on service-learning in higher education settings usually involves minimal risk to participants, there may be situations that involve decisions with ethical implications. These include:
- Multi-campus studies: Researchers involved in research on multiple campuses must consult with the IRB office of each campus. Depending on the nature of the study, the researcher may be required to apply for IRB approval on each campus.
- International studies: Researchers working on international service-learning courses or programs need to consult with the IRB (or equivalent) office of any non-US institutions. Investigators should also be aware of applicable laws, regulations, or norms in the country(ies) in which they are conducting research. Wells, Warchal, Ruiz and Chapdelain (in press) indicate that the criteria against which research might be judged in another country could be based on principles that deviate from western or American criteria.
- Research on your own students: Because of the power differences between faculty and students, researchers should be careful when undertaking research on their own students, particularly during the semester in which a student is enrolled in the faculty member's course. If a course does have a requirement for research participation, students should be given the opportunity for another option, such as a research paper, without penalty.
- Research on students in K-12 settings: Studies involving minor children require particular care with regard to informed consent. Some procedures, if they are part of the standard teaching and learning environment, do not require separate parental consent. This includes research conducted in established or commonly accepted educational settings, involving normal educational practices, such as (i) research on regular and special educational instructional strategies, or (ii) research on the effectiveness of or the comparison among instructional techniques, curricula, or classroom management methods. An IRB must review research protocols to determine if and how informed consent will be handled for minors.
