IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 62

application to study the selection of
majors in institutions of higher education. The IRB requested a copy of
the data-collection instrument that,
in the application, the researcher
described as being designed to
include questions in several areas
and specified the types of questions
to be asked. Additionally, the IRB
requested the names and resumes
of the transcribers the researcher
wanted to employ. Furthermore, it
asked that they be listed as investigators on the project proposal.

less risky data-collection strategy.
It further objected to the recording
of interviews. Also, the IRB did not
like obtaining the list of female faculty from department chairs.
Example 6- In the study on
teaching mathematics in a developing country, the researcher told the
IRB that there is no risk to human
subjects. However, the IRB contested that subjects may feel bored
or tired during interviews, which
means some potential discomfort
involved in the study.

IRBs tend to follow a fixed
checklist, misread the qualitative
research design, seek meaningless
clarifications, and delay the start
of research.
Example 4- To study the teaching
of mathematics in schools in a developing country, a researcher secured
verbal permissions from the Director
of Education for public schools and
principals of private schools during a
trip. She submitted the application to
the IRB for expedited approval. The
IRB took over five months to request
the modification, which centered on
getting written documentation from
the Director and principals; the IRB
did not accept verbal permission
secured by the researcher.
Example 5- A researcher, who
expressed interest in the study of
how female faculty members balance academic careers with family commitments, recounted that
the IRB believed the study would
be risky for the faculty members
later seeking tenure and promotion.
She had planned to acquire data by
asking open-ended questions and
additional questions based on the
responses from the human subjects.
Instead, she was asked to submit
the exact instrument so the IRB
could evaluate the possible risks to
the subjects. The IRB felt that a survey with a set of possible answers
from which to choose would be a
62

|

Example 7- A researcher revealed
that he typically derives risks based
on speculation or guesswork. According to him, possible risks in his studies are similar to a normal interaction
between people (human subjects)
and a stranger (the researcher) who
will leave after the data is collected.
Further, he finds it extremely difficult to summarize the benefits that
the subjects will receive from participating in his research, other than the
gain of general knowledge.
Example 8- According to a
researcher, earlier informed consents were brief, approximately
100 to 200 words. Now they consist of the multiple headings such
as: 1) Introduction, 2) What will
happen if I decide to participate?
3) How long will I be in this
study? 4) What are the risks of
being in this study? 5) What are
the benefits to being in this study?
6) What other choices do I have if
I do not want to be in this study?
7) How will my information be
kept confidential? 8) What are the
costs of taking part in this study?
9) Will I be paid for taking part in
this study? 10) How will I know if
you learn something new that may

change my mind about participating? 11) Can I stop being in the
study once I begin? 12) Whom can
I call with questions of complaints
about this study? 13) Whom can I
call with questions about my rights
as a research subject? 14) Consent.
15) Investigator's signature. Every
heading had a brief write up.
Example 9- In the field, a
researcher had instructed human
subjects to read and sign the
informed-consent form as required
by the IRB. Several non-Caucasian
subjects were hesitant to sign and
they had to be persuaded to comply with the IRB requirements. She
observed similar hesitation with
immigrant subjects. For them, the
main issue was who would have
access to the signed informedconsent form and when it would
be destroyed. They did not want to
have any written record related to
their participation in the study.
Example 10- In a developing
country, a researcher found that
most human subjects became rather
nervous in seeing the formality
associated with their participation
in the study. Many felt threatened
by the clause allowing for participation withdrawal from the study
at any time. They interpreted this
as an indication that they would be
asked inappropriate or threatening
questions. Further, they became
apprehensive in reading the statement about possible
concerns
about interview, and the idea that
they could call/contact the person
listed on the consent form, who was
located in the United States. They
considered this a physical burden
on them due to about a 10-hour
time difference between their country and the United States. Furthermore, this meant they were being
asked to use their personal funds to
make long-distance phone calls.

Limitations of Autonomy
and Denigration of
Qualitative Inquiry
The presentation of empirical
cases, as well as scholarly literature

IEEE TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY MAGAZINE

|

WINTER 2014



Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014

IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - Cover1
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - Cover2
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 1
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 2
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 3
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 4
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 5
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 6
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 7
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 8
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 9
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 10
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 11
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 12
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 13
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 14
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 15
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 16
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 17
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 18
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 19
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 20
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 21
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 22
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 23
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 24
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 25
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 26
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 27
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 28
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 29
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 30
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 31
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 32
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 33
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 34
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 35
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 36
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 37
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 38
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 39
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 40
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 41
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 42
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 43
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 44
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 45
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 46
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 47
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 48
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 49
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 50
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 51
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 52
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 53
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 54
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 55
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 56
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 57
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 58
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 59
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 60
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 61
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 62
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 63
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 64
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 65
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 66
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 67
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 68
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 69
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 70
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 71
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 72
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 73
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 74
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 75
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 76
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 77
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 78
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 79
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 80
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - Cover3
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_september2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_june2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_march2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_december2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_september2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_june2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_march2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_december2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_september2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_june2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_march2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_december2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_september2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_june2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_march2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_december2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_september2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_june2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_march2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_december2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_september2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_june2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_march2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_winter2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_fall2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_summer2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_spring2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_winter2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_fall2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_summer2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_spring2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_winter2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_fall2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_summer2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_spring2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_winter2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_fall2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_summer2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_spring2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_winter2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_fall2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_summer2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_spring2013
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com