This detailed introduction provides an overview of the article “Ethical Issues when Using Digital Platforms to Perform Interviews in Qualitative Health Research” by Isaac Maldonado-Castellanos and Liliana Mondragón Barrios, published in the International Journal of Qualitative Methods in 2023.
The article addresses the growing use of digital and video platforms for conducting interviews in qualitative health research, a practice that falls under the domain of internet-mediated research. Qualitative studies have become increasingly common, particularly in health research, aiming to gather rich information about participants’ experiences and perceptions rather than numerical data. Interviews are a fundamental tool in this process, serving as a communicative method to elicit information and construct knowledge through dialogue, empathy, and intimacy. Digital platforms such as Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Google Meet, and FaceTime have emerged as valuable tools, especially when traditional face-to-face interviews are not feasible.
The primary aim of this work is to identify and describe some ethical controversies that arise when using these videoconferencing platforms for interview purposes in qualitative health research. Rather than offering definitive solutions, the authors engage in reflection on the possibility and plausibility of employing these telecommunication technologies. The article emphasizes that research necessitates constant ethical deliberation to protect participants’ rights during data collection.
The authors discuss four main categories where ethical issues may emerge when conducting interviews via digital platforms:
- Privacy: This refers to an individual’s freedom of thought, control over their body and personal information, and protection of their reputation. While informed consent outlines privacy assurances, digital platforms introduce new threats. Beyond cyberattacks, there’s concern that others might overhear the conversation in the researcher’s or participant’s environment, often without the participant’s awareness. Such vulnerabilities can make participants hesitant to disclose sensitive information, potentially compromising the data’s validity.
- Confidentiality: This involves the respectful handling and protection of information disclosed within relationships of trust, preventing unauthorized disclosure. Key questions arise regarding where data shared via videotelephony systems is stored (e.g., in cloud technology), how to prevent unauthorized access by hackers or third parties, and which platforms offer the best protection. Researchers face the challenge of securing information in a digital world prone to cyberthreats.
- Accuracy of Information: This category addresses the quality and reliability of data gathered through digital platforms. Participants’ potential reluctance to share authentic, accurate, or detailed information due to perceived platform vulnerabilities could compromise the data’s trustworthiness. This reflects an ongoing debate in qualitative research concerning the reliability of information when the collection method itself might inhibit free expression.
- Technology Literacy: This issue acknowledges that participants may lack sufficient expertise or understanding of how to use digital platforms or the internet effectively. This raises questions about the researcher’s responsibility to ensure participants’ technological understanding, potentially through assessments or explicit declarations in the informed consent. Researchers must consider the ethical implications when participants are not proficient with the technology being used.
The article posits that these categories offer a valuable framework for classifying ethical issues in digital interviews, acknowledging that new ethical considerations may arise with future technological advancements, such as artificial intelligence or virtual reality. The reflections presented are intended to benefit the qualitative research community in the design, planning, conduct, and review of their studies.
Reference: Maldonado-Castellanos, I., & Mondragón Barrios, L. (2023). Ethical Issues when Using Digital Platforms to Perform Interviews in Qualitative Health Research. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 22, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1177/16094069231165949
