Ethical Considerations in Face-to-Face and Internet-Mediated Research with Teenage Populations

Abstract

Research ethics is a critical part of any project but requires special consideration when conducting research with teenagers. Teenagers are deemed a vulnerable group and it is important to thoroughly consider ethical issues when conducting research with teenagers. Due to the proliferation and ease of access of the internet, internet-mediated research has become a beneficial modality for collecting data from teenagers in a HCI research context. Internet-mediated research is the process of gathering data via web-based technologies directly from research participants. Yet, internet-mediated research is still in its early stages and the key ethical issues with internet-mediated research are not immediately obvious. Therefore, this chapter examines key ethical standards for conducting research with teenagers through traditional face-to-face and internet-mediated methods. The key ethical issues are highlighted and discussed in the context of research with teenage populations. Personal experiences of both face-to-face and internet-mediated research with teenagers are discussed and reflected upon. This chapter contributes key understandings of ethical issues within the context of HCI research involving teenage participants.