ELEMENTS OF THE ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS
1. Protection of Human Rights:
1.1. Principle of Justice
1.2. Principle of Respect for Human Dignity
1.3. Principle of Beneficence
2. Risk-Benefit Ratio Assessment
3. Implied Consent:
3.1. Purpose and conduct of the study
3.2. Research procedures
3.3. Alternatives
3.4. Type of data to be collected
3.5. Potential risks and inconveniences
3.6. Potential benefits
3.7. Provision for medical or psychosocial support
3.8. Provision for injury or related illness
3.9. Sponsorship
3.10. Compensation
3.11. Pledge of confidentiality
3.12. Voluntary consent
3.13. Right to withdraw and withhold information
3.14. Sharing the Results
3.15. Contact information
4. Authorization to Access Private Information
5. Privacy and Confidentiality
6. Debriefing, Communication, and Referrals
7. Incentives or Compensation
8. Conflict of Interest
9. Vulnerability Assessment
10. Collaborative Study Terms of Reference
11. Qualification of the Researcher
12. Adequacy of Facilities
13. Community Involvement
14. Specimen Handling
I. Introduction
• Discuss briefly about the purpose of the ethical considerations and the completion of
necessary requirements issued by the Research Ethics Committee (REC).
• Discuss how will you treat the REC feedbacks concerning to the study.
• Should be written in future/present tense during the proposal and convert to past tense
during the final oral defense.
e.g., The researcher of the study will secure an approval from the Research Ethics
Committee (REC) of Davao Medical School Foundation, Inc. (DMSFI) for the ethical and
technical soundness review prior the conduct of the study. Ethical considerations
assessment form will be accomplished by the researcher for the approval. The
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recommendations and suggestions by the Committee will be carried-out and integrated in
this study.
II. Protection of Human Rights
• Appropriate procedures must be identified to safeguard the rights of study participants.
• Discuss the Belmont Report of ethical principles: Justice, Respect for Human Dignity, and
Beneficence.
1. Principle of Justice:
1.1. Fairness in distribution or what is deserved to a person must be observed.
1.2. Each person must have an equal share:
1.2.1. According to individual need.
1.2.2. According to individual effort.
1.2.3. According to societal contribution.
1.2.4. According to merit.
2. Principle of Respect for Human Dignity:
2.1. The person should be treated as autonomous agents.
2.2. A person with diminished autonomy is entitled to protection.
3. Principle of Beneficence:
3.1. Do no harm
3.2. Maximize the possible benefits
3.3. Minimize the possible harms.
• Discuss that the study will be reviewed by the Research Ethics Committee (REC).
• The study is designed to minimize risks and maximize benefits to participants.
e.g., Principles of justice, respect for human dignity, and beneficence will be observed in
order to maintain and ensure the right of the participants. Every participant of the study
will be treated equally in all aspects of the study; thus, justice is observed. Privacy and
confidentiality procedures will be strictly implemented along with securing the inform
consent; thus, respect for human dignity is ensured. Informed consent is a pre-requisite
prior the participants to participate in the study. There will be no harm caused to the
participants as this study will not use any experimental intervention or treatment; thus,
beneficence is observed. The study will undergo a review from the REC to assess the
technical and ethical soundness of the study as well as to minimize the risks and to
maximize the benefits upon data gathering.
III. Risk-Benefit Assessment
• Review the benefits to participants which must outweigh any potential risk or actual
discomfort they experience.
• Review the benefits to society which must outweigh the cost to participants.
• Review for the possible use of placebo as detailed in the Declaration of Helsinki
(Literature: https://www.who.int/bulletin/archives/79(4)373.pdf)
1. Potential Benefits:
1.1. Access to a potentially beneficial intervention
1.2. Comfort in being able to discuss their situation or problem with a friendly and
objective person.
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1.3. Increase their knowledge about themselves or condition, either through
opportunity for introspection self-reflection or through direct interaction with
researchers.
1.4. Escape from normal routine, excitement of being part of the study.
1.5. Satisfaction that information they provide may help others with similar problems
or conditions.
2. Potential Risks:
2.1. Review the level of risk and measures to mitigate these risks including the physical,
psychological, social, and economic.
2.2. Any physical harm including the unanticipated effects.
2.3. Physical discomfort, fatigue or boredom.
2.4. Psychological or emotional distress resulting from self-disclosure, introspection,
fear of the unknown, discomfort with strangers, fear of eventual repercussions,
anger or embarrassment at the type of questions being asked.
2.5. Social risks, such as the risk of stigma, adverse effects on personal relationship,
loss of status, loss of privacy, and loss of time.
2.6. Discuss the plans for adverse event management.
2.7. Monetary cost (such as transportation, child care, or time lost from work.
e.g., To address the potential risk and benefits issues of this study, the researcher will
ensure that this study in nature will only be related to the possible health-related risks on
unprotected sexual activities. However, upon the data gathering, the participants may feel
some discomforts and uneasy as they will be asked to answer certain questions disclosing
their personal information. With this, the researcher will assure that the information and
data collection procedures will be kept as not distressing as possible. The participants will
have the freedom to choose not to answer some information and the researcher will greatly
give respect to their decision. In terms of benefits, researcher will explain that there will be
no direct benefits in participating in the study, but the results of the study would serve as
bases to develop integrated health education program to help prevent and minimize the
spread of sexual transmitted infections particularly on HIV/AIDS which in turn will
improve the knowledge, attitudes, and sexual practices among the participants.
IV. Implied Consent:
• Integration of the 15 key elements in the informed/implied consent or assent.
• Description of a written form for verbal consents/assents.
• Discussion regarding the comprehension of consents/assents.
• Discussion regarding the documentation of consents/assents.
• Discussion regarding authorization to access private information.
• If minors, an assent is required. The legal guardian must sign for a minor to be able to
participate in the study.
a. 0-under 7: No assent
b. 7-under 12: Verbal Assent
c. 12-under15: Simplified Assent Form
d. 15-under18: Co-sign informed consent form with parents
• In the Informed Consent Form (ICF), it must be written in the second person (e.g., “You
have the right…”)
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1. Purpose and conduct of the study
• Explanation of the study goal and purposes.
• Description of the nature of commitment of the participants in the study.
• Description of the expected duration of the participant’s participation in the study.
• Why is the study being done?
• What has been done previously?
• How will the present study be conducted?
• What is the nature and extent of involvement of research participants?
2. Research procedures
• Description of the procedures to be followed in the study.
• Identification of any procedures that are experimental such as drug or device to be
used (if applicable).
3. Alternatives
• Disclosure of appropriate alternative procedures or courses of treatment (if any)
that might be advantageous to the participants.
4. Type of data to be collected
• What type of data or information will you ask to the participants?
5. Potential risks and inconveniences
• Description of any reasonably foreseeable risks or discomforts to the participants.
• Will there be discomforts? Are these prescribed clearly?
• Will there be risks? Are these explained fully?
• Are there other effects the participants need to know in order to make a decision?
6. Potential benefits
• Description of any benefits to the participant that may reasonably be expected from
the study.
• What benefits can the participants expect?
7. Provision for medical or psychosocial support
• Description about the stand-by medical or psychosocial support is available in case
of mental distress or emotional imbalance of the participants during the conduct of
the study.
• Will the participant be given a free consultation or counselling from the expert in
case of emotional or mental distress incurred as a result of participating in the
study?
8. Provision for injury or related illness
• Description as to whether any compensation or medical treatments are available if
injury occurs.
• Will the participant be given free treatment in case of injury or illness incurred as a
result of participating in the study?
9. Sponsorship
• A statement about the funding of the study.
• Who will shoulder the study expenses?
10. Compensation
• Will there be reimbursement of travel expenses? Compensation for loss of income?
Meal expenses?
• Are there other financial considerations?
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11. Pledge of confidentiality
• A statement describing the extent (if any) to which confidentiality of records
identifying the participant will be maintained.
• Is there a statement that describes the measures that will be taken to keep and ensure
the confidentiality of the participant’s records?
12. Voluntary consent
• A statement that participation is voluntary and that refusal to participate will
involve no penalty or loss of benefits to which the participant is otherwise entitled.
• A statement of no pressure or inducement of any kind will be applied to encourage
a person to become a participant of the study.
• Is the participant free of any coercion in participating?
• Is there provision for obtaining the informed consent form (ICF) from the legal
representative in case of minors, the mentally handicapped or the incapacitated?
13. Right to withdraw and withhold information
• A statement about the participant’s decision to withdraw from the study at any time
without penalty or loss of benefits to which the participant is otherwise entitled.
• A statement about the procedures for orderly termination of participation by the
participant.
• Is there assurance that the participants can withdraw anytime without affecting the
treatment due?
14. Sharing the Results
• A statement about disclosing the study findings to the participants and the possible
publication of the results either international or national journals and the like.
15. Contact information
• An explanation of whom to contact for answers to pertinent questions about the
study and the participant’s rights.
• An explanation of whom to contact in the event of a study-related injury to the
participant.
• Who is the person knowledgeable about the study and the rights of the participant?
• How can be that researcher (including the Research Ethics Committee contacts and
address) be contacted?
e.g., The study will be relied on the implied consent. This would mean that the moment the
potential participants agree to be part of the study, informed consent forms will be secured.
Despite reliance on implied consent, elements of an informed consent will be included in
the survey tools as an introductory paragraph.
Purpose and conduct of study. The researcher will briefly and comprehensively explain to
the participants personally about the purpose and goal of the study, their right to abstain
from participation in the research, the confidential nature of undertaking, to terminate at
any time of their participation, and the confidential nature of their responses. The
participants will answer the survey tool only. They will be asked about 10 to 15 minutes of
their time to answer the tool.
Research procedures. Data gathering procedure has been extensively discussed in the
previous paragraphs. The study will commence with taking permissions from the necessary
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offices. It will seek approval from the Research Ethics Committee (REC) prior to the data
gathering. Data gathering will be made use of a survey tool.
Alternatives. Surgical treatment is usually an option given to the participants who have
reached skeletal maturity and if their curves are greater than 50 degrees. It is up to the
participants to decide.
Type of data to be collected. The study will only gather quantitative data. These data are
numeric in nature.
Potential risks and inconveniences. Participants will only be exposed to minimal risks.
The content of the survey tool will not ask any highly-sensitive questions which may harm
the participants psychologically and emotionally. Measures will be taken to eliminate or
minimize risks involved in the study.
Potential benefits. In terms of benefits, the researcher will explain that there would be no
direct benefits in participating in the study. The participants, however, will be
acknowledged in helping address issues in relation to professionalism. It will help them
reflect and become more mindful in their actions as future physicians. They will be
informed that the results of the study would serve as a basis for intervention that may lead
to the improvement of the medical curriculum and policies.
Provision for medical or psychosocial support. The researcher will hire a stand-by
psychologist during the interview when mental or emotional distress arise as a result of the
participation of the concerned participant in the study.
Provision for injury or related illness. The researcher will refer the concerned participant
to an expert for the prompt medical treatment should complications or injuries arise as a
result of the participation in the study.
Sponsorship. The study is an academic requirement and the expenses incurred will be
solely covered by the researcher.
Compensation. The researcher will give an emphasis that no monetary cost is given to the
participants in joining the study. The researcher will bear the cost of administering the
survey tools. However, the participants will be personally acknowledged for their
participation in the study. For any injury incurred during the data collection, medical
expenses will be borne by the researcher.
Pledge of confidentiality. The confidentiality of the information provided will be
maintained. Personal identity will not be revealed to anyone in compliance with the Data
Privacy Act of 2012. However, some of the information might be shared to the people who
will be associated with the study but utmost caution will be taken to warrant anonymity of
the data sources and the corresponding personal information. All the copies of the answered
survey tools will be kept under the custody of the researcher and encoders. The electronic
copy of the transcripts will be stored in the researcher’s personal computer secured with a
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password known only to the researcher. The answered survey tools will be destroyed if
deemed no longer needed by way of shredding.
Voluntary consent. The participation of the participants will be purely voluntary making
sure that there will be no unwarranted influence and coercion.
Right to withdraw and withhold information. Participants can freely withdraw from the
study and they can withhold information at their will. The researcher will assure for those
participants who will not participate in the study will have no attached equivalent sanctions.
Sharing the Results. Any information collected during the study will be shared nothing
will be correlated to the participants’ identity. The results will be shared among the research
team, co-author, research panels, and to the concerned participants. The participants will
be given a summary of the results. The researchers will publish the results without
including the real name, but the code name of the participants so that other interested people
may learn from the research.
Contact information. The researcher will provide to the participants with his working
contact number of 0910-xxx-xxxx so that if there will be questions or any concerns, these
can be answered or addressed at the most appropriate manner. Should participants have
questions, they may also contact the DMSFI REC at 234-xxxx or email at
xxxxxx@gmail.com
V. Authorization to Access Private Information
• This is applicable only when accessing the participant’s information which can be
incorporated in the informed consent form (ICF) or a separate form should be used.
• The participant concerned should sign the authorization of which shall include:
1. Who will receive the information?
2. What type of information will be disclosed?
3. What further disclosures the researcher anticipates?
e.g., The study will only involve gathering of data through survey tools. There will be
no accessing of participants’ records or any other private information during the
conduct of the study.
VI. Privacy and Confidentiality
• Provide measures or guarantees to protect privacy and confidentiality of the
participant’s information as indicated by data collection procedure including data
protection plans.
• Anonymity must be observed, assigning numbers to the participants and that
information will be kept with strict confidentiality.
e.g., The ultimate goal of the researcher is to maintain and ensure the privacy and
confidentiality of information being gathered. Privacy will be provided from the time
that the participants answered and completed the survey tools. Privacy will be further
observed by making sure that all information gathered in the research, such as the
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survey tools can only be accessed by the researcher. Survey tools will be stored in a
locked cabinet and electronic data containing the summary of data gathered which will
be encrypted with a password and can only be accessed by the researcher.
When gathering data, the principle of anonymity will be observed all throughout the
conduct of the study. All survey tools will be anonymized and de-identified, no
information will be gathered that may lead to the identity of the participants, and no
names will be gathered. Once the study is done, all survey tools will be destroyed by
way of shredding.
Moreover, to address the confidentiality and privacy of information, the researcher will
assure the participants that any personal information obtained will be treated
anonymously and with utmost confidentiality. The researcher will explain that the
identities of the participants will be coded and can only be used for analysis and
interpretation of data. During data gathering and interaction with the participants, the
researcher will always be graceful and polite, communicated within the participants’
level of understanding or knowledge, and considered sensitivity with culture, gender,
and other issues. The researcher will be opened for a scheduled data gathering and
interview to participants on their available time. Participants who completely
participated in the study will be appreciated.
VII. Debriefing, Communications, and Referrals
• The researcher should be gracious and polite and should phrase questions tactfully.
• The researcher should be sensitive to cultural and linguistic diversity.
1. Debriefing sessions:
• After data collection is completed this is done to permit the participants to ask
questions or air complaints.
2. Communication:
• Communicate with participants after study is completed to let them know that
their participation was appreciated.
• This is either by mailing them a summary or advising them of an appropriate
website.
3. Referrals:
• Appropriate health, social, or psychological services when necessary.
• Like when studying stress, participants with high level of stress should be
referred to a psychologist.
e.g., The necessity of conducting a debriefing is warranted in the study before and after
data collection considering that there will be possible distressing interviews or
interventions being introduced. The means of communication that will be used in the
study is plainly verbal and written communications. Transmittal letter will be sent to
the office of the Dean of College for the approval to conduct the study. Participants of
the study will be asked to answer the survey tools and the recruitment procedures will
be done personally. When referrals is necessary, it will be done appropriately.
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VIII. Incentives or Compensation
• A statement of justifiable amount and method of compensation, financial incentives or
reimbursement of study-related expenses.
• Declare if there is monetary consideration or if not, what are other options in giving
back to the participants.
e.g., The researcher will give an emphasis on no monetary cost will be given to the
participants during the study. The researcher will bear the cost of administering the
survey tools including the mobile internet fees and/or transport cost of the participants.
For any injury incurred during the data collection, medical expenses will be borne by
the researcher.
IX. Conflict of Interest
• A statement regarding on management of conflict arising from financial familial or
proprietary considerations of the researcher, sponsor, or the study site.
e.g., There will be no conflict of interest to be declared in this study.
X. Vulnerability Assessment
• Discuss the involvement of vulnerable populations in the study and its impact on
informed consent.
• Vulnerable populations:
1. Children
2. Elderly
3. People with mentally or emotionally disabled
4. People with severely ill or physically disabled
5. People with incurable diseases or terminally ill
6. Ethnic and racial minority groups
7. Homeless
8. Prisoners
9. People who are politically powerless
10. Junior members of a hierarchical group
11. Pregnant women
12. Institutionalized people (e.g., hospital, facility, nursing homes, hospice,
rehabilitation)
e.g., Permission from the Dean and medical education unit head of the medical
institution will be sought to warrant the unbiased conduct of the study and adherence
to the recommended parameters. Furthermore, the researcher will consider the
vulnerability of the participants, thus, they will be given the capacity to decide for
themselves whether to join or not to join in the study. They will also be given autonomy
to withdraw from being part of the study anytime if they choose to do so. The researcher
will ensure that the participants will not be under the researcher’s clinical department
at the time of data collection. It is emphasized that participation has no bearing to their
grades or performance. This is to address the possible student-teacher vulnerability.
Likewise, the researcher reassures them that their identities would be kept confidential
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and secured. Furthermore, they will be protected from the possibility of being
identified.
XI. Collaborative Study Terms of Reference
• If the study is collaborative in nature in a case of multi-country or multi-institutional
studies.
• An agreement about intellectual property rights, publication rights, information and
responsibility sharing, transparency, and capacity building.
e.g., The study do not involve co-authorship or collaboration with another person or
organization. The publication rights are being held by the researcher and the School.
XII. Qualification of the Researcher
• A statement about the competence of the researcher to conduct the study.
e.g., The researcher acknowledges the limitation in conducting a qualitative research
study despite receiving previous lectures from professors. Thus, the researcher will
submit and confer to the expertise and guidance from the research adviser as well as
from the members of the panel. Auxiliary readings on qualitative research and the
research topic itself will be also done to guide the researcher on the conduct of this
study. Since the researcher is a clinical coordinator in a major department, he can
directly provide results to the heads of the departments to help improve professionalism
of the students.
XIII. Adequacy of Facilities
• A statement about the facilities and infrastructure of the participating site.
e.g., The availability and accessibility of needed facilities in this study will be ensured.
Library and internet resources will be available for further readings and references to
aid in strengthening the analysis and interpretation of the gathered data. Audio
recorders, camera, and other materials needed will be available. Rooms for interview
will be made available and secured if needed. An experienced and competent faculty
not related to the clinical subjects and rotations will be the one to conduct the focus
group interview. The group of experts might provide valuable feedback and
suggestions which may be used to help the researcher in conducting the study and
communicating the results.
XIV. Community Involvement
• Review on the impact of the study on the community where the study occurs and/or to
whom the study findings can be linked.
• A statement about the stigma or draining of local capacity, sensitivity to cultural
traditions, and involvement of the community in decisions about the conduct of the
study.
e.g., This study will commence right after the permission from the heads of the medical
institution are obtained. The researcher might involve the academic community in the
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dissemination of the results of the study and the enlightenment of the problematic
condition. The researcher is also dedicated to share with the stakeholders and other
beneficiaries whatever the results of the inquiry through local and international research
presentations. The researcher will convene again the participants and present to them
the outcome of the study. The study is expected to provide a vivid perspective of
professionalism among the students, reinforced the positive and eliminate the negative
ones. These positive professionalism concepts hoped to be translated as changes in
behavior as they go higher in the hierarchy of medical education.
XV. Specimen Handling
• A statement about the possible extraction of tissue or blood samples from the
participants during the conduct of the study.
• Discuss about the possible delivery of the obtained samples to abroad.
e.g., There will be no genetic studies conducted during the study. Tissue sampling and
blood extraction will not be done as well.
Note: The technical writing of the Ethical Considerations will be based on the Levels of Heading
format of the APA 7th edition. Refrain from using bullets, symbols, numerical figures, or roman
numerals during the discussion of the Ethical Considerations.
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METHODS OF VERIFICATION
The trustworthiness of qualitative research generally is often questioned by Positivists and perhaps
because their concepts of validity and reliability cannot be addressed in the same way in
naturalistic work. Guba proposes four criteria that he believes should be considered by qualitative
researchers in pursuit of a trustworthy study. By addressing the similar issues, Guba’s constructs
correspond to the criteria employed by the Positivist Investigators:
1. Credibility: In preference to the Internal Validity
2. Transferability: In preference to the External Validity or Generalizability
3. Dependability: In preference to the Reliability
4. Confirmability: In preference to the Objectivity
Credibility
• Seeks to ensure that the study measures or tests what is actually intended.
• Adoption of research methods well established both qualitative investigation in general and
in information science in particular.
• Development of an early familiarity with the culture of participating organizations before
the first data collection dialogues take place.
• Random sampling of individuals to serve as informants. Although much qualitative
research involves the use of purposive sampling, a random approach may negate charges
of researcher bias in the selection of the participants.
• Triangulation may involve the use if different methods, especially observation, focus
groups, and individual interviews, which form the major data collection strategies for much
qualitative research.
• Tactics to help ensure honesty in informants when contributing data.
• Iterative questioning. In addition to the “preventative” strategies outline above, specific
ploys may be incorporated to uncover deliberate lies.
• The researcher’s “reflective commentary”. In addition to the outside scrutiny discussed
above, the investigator should seek to evaluate the project, again as it develops.
• Background, qualifications and experience of the investigator.
• Mentor checks, which Guba and Lincoln consider the single most important provision that
can be made to bolster a study’s credibility.
• Thick description of the phenomenon under scrutiny.
e.g., To warrant credibility, language of the participants will be used. The entire in-depth
interviews (IDI) including the focus group discussion (FGD) will be video-audiotaped with
probing and prolonged engagements. This study will utilize non-probability sampling
methods more specifically, purposive sampling in choosing participants of the study based
on the inclusion and the exclusion criteria. Persistent observation and earnest will be
carried out as diligent researchers was cautiously observed the quality and components in
the situation that are opposite to the issued that are being explored by creating an open line
of communication with the participants and was thereby meticulously address participants’
concerns accordingly with confidence valuing their autonomy on the course of this study;
thus, consent from the participants will be elicited via written forms. The participants will
also be asked to review the data or the panel members will check the collected data by the
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facilitator (during FGD) and the researcher’s interpretations of that data (during IDI). This
will verify their statements and will fill in any gaps from earlier interview. Thick
description of the phenomenon under scrutiny will be employed as it will help to convey
the actual situations that will have been investigated and the contexts that surround. With
the usage of reference materials, the results of research will be criticized especially for
purposes of evaluation. In this study, researcher will use journals, books, and research
results that match the topic studied.
Transferability
• Concerns with the extent to which findings of one study can be applied to other situations.
• Thick description of a wide array of information obtained from the data collection in order
the study can make transference or allow comparisons to be made.
e.g., Transferability of research findings is the faculty of this study whereas it could also
be applied to other studies. It corresponds to the external validity of the study where the
study results are generalized. The researchers will make certain that the participants’ and
readers clearly understand the topic and provide opportunities for other researchers in
similar situations. Because the characteristics of the participants are clear, the readers will
be able to transfer the research findings on the subject of similar characteristics. They will
provide thick descriptions and will also ensure that the participants meet the inclusion
criteria. Thick description will consist of using words that illustrated the process of the
interview. The researchers will add details about the in-depth interview process and any
gestures or movements made by the participants.
Dependability
• Employs techniques (overlapping methods such as in-depth interview) to show that, if the
work were repeated, in the same context, with the same methods and with the same
participants, similar results would be obtained.
• The research design and its implementation, describing what was planned and executed on
a strategic level.
• The operational detail of data gathering, addressing the minutiae of what was done in the
field. Employs overlapping methods such as in-depth interview (IDI) and focus group
discussion (FGD).
• Reflective appraisal of the project, evaluating the effectiveness of the process of inquiry
undertaken.
e.g., For dependability, overlapping methods such as focus group discussion and in-depth
interview during data collection will be used. The researcher will seek help from the co-
author or mentor to check the consistency of the material, phase, and research results. The
data collected will be transparent, describing how the data will be collected and analyzed.
This is to determine if the research situation applies to participants’ circumstances. The
aim is not to generalize beyond the sample.
Confirmability
• Associates objectivity in science with the use of instruments that are not dependent on
human skill and perception.
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• Ensure as far as possible that the work’s findings are the result of the experiences and ideas
of the informants, rather than the characteristics and preferences of the researcher.
• Audit trail which allows any observer to trace the course of the research step-by-step via
the decision made and procedures described. The audit trail may be represented
diagrammatically.
e.g., Confirmability is where the researchers’ research interpretations are derived neutral
pretermitting bigotry by providing raw data of the interviews. Triangulation will be done to
reduce the effects of bias. The researchers will certain that the findings are based on the
participants’ responses without personal agenda. The study interview guided questionnaire
will be validated by a qualitative expert and will undergo a pilot test to check its reliability
and uncovered problems that compromised the data collection of the study. It will help to
improve the interview guided questionnaire and will enhance the chances for attaining
precise outcomes. The researcher will develop rules to describe category properties that
can be used to justify the inclusion of each data assigned to the category as well as this will
provide basis for later tests of replicability. Audit trail will be employed as it will help the
researcher to trace the course of the research step-by-step via decisions made and the
procedures described.
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LEVELS OF HEADING
(APA 7TH EDITION)
IN-TEXT CITATION AND REFERENCE FORMAT
(APA 7TH EDITION)
1. https://libraryguides.vu.edu.au/apa-referencing/7GettingStarted
2. https://libraryguides.vu.edu.au/apa-referencing/7FormatsAndExamples
3. https://libraryguides.vu.edu.au/apa-referencing/7SampleReferenceList
Prepared by:
Norman Batalla Juruena, DHCM, PhD, RN
Assistant Professor
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