3.

GUIDELINES FOR RESEARCH AT DOUGLAS COLLEGE*

.. Voluntary Participation

Where possible, informed consent should be sought from the subjects of research. They should also be informed of their right to withdraw if they so desire.

Potential Hazards

The researcher should attempt to foresee and forestall dangers to his subjects or to the population they represent. He should fully inform the subjects of potential hazards known to him.

Confidentiality

Unless there is explicit discussion indicating that anonymity and privacy will not be granted, a researcher must regard himself as having given guarantees of anonymity and privacy.

If the respondents are told that their responses will be anonymous even to the researcher, then they must not be keyed so that in fact they can be matched with other data.

Researchers dealing with sensitive materials (for example, studies of illegal activities) must be prepared to keep their files in such a fashion that if the researchers are subpoenaed or the files obtained

by subpoena or legal or illegal search or seizure, anonymity will be protected. They should not promise more anonymity than they can deliver.

Protection of Groups

It is the obligation of the researcher to consider the effects of his techniques and his publications on the larger population represented

by his subjects. He might protect their privacy and their anonymity as individuals and yet damage the population of which they are a part.

Availability of Research

The results of the research should be made available to the subjects.

Source: Anthropology-Sociology Policy Statement Regarding Research Involving Human Subjects, February 197A; UBC: