Research Ethics
- Darlene Edgar
Garcia, M. F., & Birman, D. (2020). Ethical issues in research with late-arriving and unaccompanied immigrant youth. Translational Issues in Psychological Science, 6(3), 207–213. http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=ip,sso&db=pdh&AN=2020-68425-003&custid=s7439054
Ethical Issues in Research with Late-Arriving and Unaccompanied Immigrant Youth:
Late-arriving youth are recent immigrants to the U.S., either accompanied by parents or unaccompanied, facing teenage challenges while adapting to a new country.
Educational disadvantages, language barriers, and susceptibility to school dropout are common challenges.
Legal status issues, including undocumented status and immigration without a parent or legal guardian, pose ethical dilemmas as they fall between being children and adults.
Many are directed into adult education programs for vocational training, impacting their desired high school education.
Challenges in researching this group include difficulty in identification and reliance on gatekeepers like immigrant shelters, foster care, and social service agencies.
Consent Challenges:
Parental consent is required for all minors, but parents with precarious legal status may be hesitant to sign consent forms.
Language difficulties in informed consent documents, including verbosity and inaccurate translations.
Identifying legally authorized consent providers for these children is complex, considering diverse cultural backgrounds, sociopolitical contexts, and gender and socioeconomic factors.
Ethical Representation:
Deficit-centered models and "othering" of immigrant children should be avoided.
Three key considerations: representation of youth ethically, representation within the group, and diversity in access and obtaining informed consent.
Research teams must practice due diligence, and the research design should be culturally informed and reflect the lived experiences of the population.
Research Team Inclusion:
Representation of the population on the research team, including "partial insiders" who understand the sociocultural nuances, is crucial.
Adherence to scientific and ethical guidelines should be balanced with flexibility to accommodate cultural differences.
Youth should be included in the development of research design and analysis to provide them agency in the process.
Clearly and unambiguously explain the research purpose, ensuring participants can make informed decisions, and utilize effective translators.