Researchers are increasingly using the Internet as a means of conducting research. However, the question arises, how accurate and safe is this forum for collecting data?
According to an article on Post-Gazette.com, author Tracie Mauriello notes that this is a topic of discussion among “government officials and leaders of top research institutions who are updating federal rules that protect research volunteers from harm and exploitation.” Not having been updated since the Internet’s infancy in 1991, the regulations don’t match up with the technological and scientific changes that have occurred. OHRP committee chairwoman Barbara Bierer suggests, “For online research, the panel likely will recommend guidelines, not hard-and-fast rules.”
How research is conducted in an Internet age that is constantly changing brings questions at every stage that have yet to be answered. Need help with a study you are conducting that leverages the Internet? Contact us at info@pearlirb.com.
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