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Jang SH, Kim D, Zhu Y, Kim C. Stalking Discourse on Reddit: A Comparative Analysis of Pre- and Post-COVID-19 Pandemic Using Big Data. CYBERPSYCHOLOGY, BEHAVIOR AND SOCIAL NETWORKING 2024. [PMID: 38905134 DOI: 10.1089/cyber.2023.0397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/23/2024]
Abstract
Stalking, a widespread and distressing phenomenon, has recently garnered considerable attention. The advent of digital platforms has revolutionized the landscape of stalking, presenting new avenues and challenges for research. However, the impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 pandemic on stalking remains underexplored, despite extensive studies on similar crimes such as intimate partner violence and domestic violence. To address this gap, our study focused on Reddit, a prominent online platform with a diverse user base and open discussion. Through an analysis of posts from the subreddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/Stalking/), we sought to compare the discourse on stalking before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. We found notable shifts in stalking-related posts before and after the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly with the emergence of new topics centered on cyberstalking. We also observed that the experiences of stalking victims have significantly changed following the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on our findings, we discussed the implications for policies to help stalking victims.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sou Hyun Jang
- Department of Sociology, Korea University, Seongbuk, Korea
| | - Donghun Kim
- Department of Library and Information Science, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Yongjun Zhu
- Department of Library and Information Science, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Chunrye Kim
- Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice, Saint Joseph's University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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Zhang Y, Fu J, Lai J, Deng S, Guo Z, Zhong C, Tang J, Cao W, Wu Y. Reporting of Ethical Considerations in Qualitative Research Utilizing Social Media Data on Public Health Care: Scoping Review. J Med Internet Res 2024; 26:e51496. [PMID: 38758590 PMCID: PMC11143395 DOI: 10.2196/51496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Revised: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The internet community has become a significant source for researchers to conduct qualitative studies analyzing users' views, attitudes, and experiences about public health. However, few studies have assessed the ethical issues in qualitative research using social media data. OBJECTIVE This study aims to review the reportage of ethical considerations in qualitative research utilizing social media data on public health care. METHODS We performed a scoping review of studies mining text from internet communities and published in peer-reviewed journals from 2010 to May 31, 2023. These studies, limited to the English language, were retrieved to evaluate the rates of reporting ethical approval, informed consent, and privacy issues. We searched 5 databases, that is, PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, Cochrane, and Embase. Gray literature was supplemented from Google Scholar and OpenGrey websites. Studies using qualitative methods mining text from the internet community focusing on health care topics were deemed eligible. Data extraction was performed using a standardized data extraction spreadsheet. Findings were reported using PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews) guidelines. RESULTS After 4674 titles, abstracts, and full texts were screened, 108 studies on mining text from the internet community were included. Nearly half of the studies were published in the United States, with more studies from 2019 to 2022. Only 59.3% (64/108) of the studies sought ethical approval, 45.3% (49/108) mentioned informed consent, and only 12.9% (14/108) of the studies explicitly obtained informed consent. Approximately 86% (12/14) of the studies that reported informed consent obtained digital informed consent from participants/administrators, while 14% (2/14) did not describe the method used to obtain informed consent. Notably, 70.3% (76/108) of the studies contained users' written content or posts: 68% (52/76) contained verbatim quotes, while 32% (24/76) paraphrased the quotes to prevent traceability. However, 16% (4/24) of the studies that paraphrased the quotes did not report the paraphrasing methods. Moreover, 18.5% (20/108) of the studies used aggregated data analysis to protect users' privacy. Furthermore, the rates of reporting ethical approval were different between different countries (P=.02) and between papers that contained users' written content (both direct and paraphrased quotes) and papers that did not contain users' written content (P<.001). CONCLUSIONS Our scoping review demonstrates that the reporting of ethical considerations is widely neglected in qualitative research studies using social media data; such studies should be more cautious in citing user quotes to maintain user privacy. Further, our review reveals the need for detailed information on the precautions of obtaining informed consent and paraphrasing to reduce the potential bias. A national consensus of ethical considerations such as ethical approval, informed consent, and privacy issues is needed for qualitative research of health care using social media data of internet communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujie Zhang
- Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- School of Nursing, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiaqi Fu
- Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- School of Nursing, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jie Lai
- Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- School of Nursing, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shisi Deng
- Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- School of Nursing, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zihan Guo
- Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- School of Nursing, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chuhan Zhong
- Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- School of Nursing, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jianyao Tang
- Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- School of Nursing, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wenqiong Cao
- Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yanni Wu
- Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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Holtorf AP, Danyliv A, Krause A, Hanna A, Venable Y, Mattingly TJ, Huang LY, Pierre M, Silveira Silva A, Walsh D. Ethical and legal considerations in social media research for health technology assessment: conclusions from a scoping review. Int J Technol Assess Health Care 2023; 39:e62. [PMID: 37842838 DOI: 10.1017/s0266462323000399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The objective was to identify and describe the published guidance and current academic discourse of ethical issues and standards related to the use of Social Media Research for generating patient insights for the use by health technology assessment (HTA) or health policy decisions. METHODS A scoping review of the literature was conducted in PubMed and Embase and identified 935 potential references published between January 2017 and June 2021. After title and abstract screening by three reviewers, 40 publications were included, the relevant information was extracted and data were collected in a mind map, which was then used to structure the output of the review. RESULTS Social Media Research may reveal new insights of relevance to HTA or health policies into patient needs, patient experiences, or patient behaviors. However, the research approaches, methods, data use, interpretation, and communication may expose those who post the data in social media channels to risks and potential harms relating to privacy, anonymity/confidentiality, authenticity, context, and rapidly changing technologies. CONCLUSIONS An actively engaged approach to ensuring ethical innocuousness is recommended that carefully follows best practices throughout planning, conduct, and communication of the research. Throughout the process and as a follow-up, there should be a discourse with the ethical experts to maximally protect the current and future users of social media, to support their trust in the research, and to advance the knowledge in parallel to the advancement of the media themselves, the technologies, and the research tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anke-Peggy Holtorf
- PCIG Project Coordinator, Health Outcomes Strategies GmbH, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Alissa Hanna
- Patient Engagement, Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Li-Ying Huang
- Division of Health Technology Assessment, Center for Drug Evaluation, Taipeh, Taiwan
| | - Miranda Pierre
- Scottish Medicines Consortium, Healthcare Improvement Scotland, Glasgow, Scotland
| | | | - Donna Walsh
- European Federation of Neurological Associations, Brussels, Belgium
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Serpico K, Rahimzadeh V, Gelinas L, Hartsmith L, Lynch HF, Anderson EE. Institutional Review Board Use of Outside Experts: A National Survey. AJOB Empir Bioeth 2022; 13:251-262. [PMID: 35748820 PMCID: PMC10360021 DOI: 10.1080/23294515.2022.2090459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Institutional review board (IRB) expertise is necessarily limited by maintaining a manageable board size. IRBs are therefore permitted by regulation to rely on outside experts for review. However, little is known about whether, when, why, and how IRBs use outside experts. METHODS We conducted a national survey of U.S. IRBs to characterize utilization of outside experts. Our study uses a descriptive, cross-sectional design to understand how IRBs engage with such experts and to identify areas where outside expertise is most frequently requested. RESULTS The survey response rate was 18.4%, with 55.4% of respondents reporting their institution's IRB uses outside experts. Nearly all respondents who reported using outside experts indicated they do so less than once a month, but occasionally each year (95%). The most common method of identifying an outside expert was securing a previously known subject matter expert (83.3%). Most frequently, respondents sought consultation for scientific expertise not held by current members (69.6%). Almost all respondents whose IRBs had used outside experts reported an overall positive impact on the IRB review process (91.5%). CONCLUSIONS Just over half of the IRBs in our sample report use of outside experts; among them, outside experts were described as helpful, but their use was infrequent overall. Many IRBs report not relying on outside experts at all. This raises important questions about what type of engagement with outside experts should be viewed as optimal to promote the highest quality review. For example, few respondents sought assistance from a Community Advisory Board, which could address expertise gaps in community perspectives. Further exploration is needed to understand how to optimize IRB use of outside experts, including how to recognize when expertise is lacking, what barriers IRBs face in using outside experts, and perspectives on how outside expert review impacts IRB decision-making and review quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberley Serpico
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | | | | | - Holly Fernandez Lynch
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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Takats C, Kwan A, Wormer R, Goldman D, Jones HE, Romero D. Ethical and Methodological Considerations of Twitter Data for Public Health Research: A Systematic Review (Preprint). J Med Internet Res 2022; 24:e40380. [DOI: 10.2196/40380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2022] [Revised: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
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Hosseini M, Wieczorek M, Gordijn B. Ethical Issues in Social Science Research Employing Big Data. SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING ETHICS 2022; 28:29. [PMID: 35705883 PMCID: PMC9200666 DOI: 10.1007/s11948-022-00380-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Revised: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
This paper analyzes the ethics of social science research (SSR) employing big data. We begin by highlighting the research gap found on the intersection between big data ethics, SSR and research ethics. We then discuss three aspects of big data SSR which make it warrant special attention from a research ethics angle: (1) the interpretative character of both SSR and big data, (2) complexities of anticipating and managing risks in publication and reuse of big data SSR, and (3) the paucity of regulatory oversight and ethical recommendations on protecting individual subjects as well as societies when conducting big data SSR. Against this backdrop, we propose using David Resnik's research ethics framework to analyze some of the most pressing ethical issues of big data SSR. Focusing on the principles of honesty, carefulness, openness, efficiency, respect for subjects, and social responsibility, we discuss three clusters of ethical issues: those related to methodological biases and personal prejudices, those connected to risks arising from data availability and reuse, and those leading to individual and social harms. Finally, we advance considerations to observe in developing future ethical guidelines about big data SSR.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Bert Gordijn
- Institute of Ethics, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland
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7
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DiRusso C, Stansberry K. Unvaxxed: A Cultural Study of the Online Anti-Vaccination Movement. QUALITATIVE HEALTH RESEARCH 2022; 32:317-329. [PMID: 34847821 DOI: 10.1177/10497323211056050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
In this study, the constructive communication process of anti-vaccination advocates is explored to provide insight into the challenges of communicating with an engaged, educated public that is distrustful of mainstream medical and governmental organizations. Using the circuit of culture as a theoretical and methodological model, this article examines how anti-vaccination advocates use social media to construct and reinforce a belief system that counters dominate understandings of health. Findings show that, through online communication, anti-vaccination advocates create shared cultural constructs embracing the identity of health information crusader, critic, and expert. This community consumes, produces, and distributes information that reframes mainstream health information and reinforces shared values. The purposes of this study are to better understand the culture of anti-vaccination advocates, identify communication barriers, and offer practical implications for health care professionals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlina DiRusso
- Communication Department, 3930Hope College, Holland, MI, USA
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Ferretti A, Ienca M, Velarde MR, Hurst S, Vayena E. The Challenges of Big Data for Research Ethics Committees: A Qualitative Swiss Study. J Empir Res Hum Res Ethics 2021; 17:129-143. [PMID: 34779661 PMCID: PMC8721531 DOI: 10.1177/15562646211053538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Big data trends in health research challenge the oversight mechanism of the Research Ethics Committees (RECs). The traditional standards of research quality and the mandate of RECs illuminate deficits in facing the computational complexity, methodological novelty, and limited auditability of these approaches. To better understand the challenges facing RECs, we explored the perspectives and attitudes of the members of the seven Swiss Cantonal RECs via semi-structured qualitative interviews. Our interviews reveal limited experience among REC members with the review of big data research, insufficient expertise in data science, and uncertainty about how to mitigate big data research risks. Nonetheless, RECs could strengthen their oversight by training in data science and big data ethics, complementing their role with external experts and ad hoc boards, and introducing precise shared practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agata Ferretti
- Health Ethics and Policy Lab, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, 27219ETH Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Marcello Ienca
- Health Ethics and Policy Lab, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, 27219ETH Zürich, Switzerland.,College of Humanities, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland
| | - Minerva Rivas Velarde
- Department of Radiology and Medical Informatics, Faculty of Medicine, 27212University of Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Samia Hurst
- Institute for Ethics, History, and the Humanities, Faculty of Medicine, 27212University of Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Effy Vayena
- Health Ethics and Policy Lab, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, 27219ETH Zürich, Switzerland
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9
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Schuman DL, Highfill C, Johnson A, Henderson S, Ognyanova P. Scoping Review: Ethical Considerations in Online Ethnographic Research With Military Populations. J Empir Res Hum Res Ethics 2021; 16:374-388. [PMID: 34424786 DOI: 10.1177/15562646211038161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Researchers using online ethnographic methods to study military communities must employ higher standards of ethical practice. Military populations may face significant risk if reidentified in research. These requirements are especially salient for online data collection. This review questions how and to what extent military online ethnographers are addressing ethics considerations. We charted evidence from seven military studies using an online ethnographic method. Findings reveal that most online military ethnographers did not utilize sufficient ethical safeguards in their studies. Additionally, they did not document or transparently disclose the ethical steps they may have taken. This study argues implementing ethical safeguards is especially important for protecting vulnerable military populations. We present a strategy for evaluating ethics practices in online ethnographic research and provide best practices for military online ethnographers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donna L Schuman
- School of Social Work, 12329University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX, USA
| | - Christine Highfill
- School of Social Work, 12329University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX, USA
| | - Amy Johnson
- School of Education and the Arts, 6939Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, Australia
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10
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Barnard E, Dempster G, Krysinska K, Reifels L, Robinson J, Pirkis J, Andriessen K. Ethical concerns in suicide research: thematic analysis of the views of human research ethics committees in Australia. BMC Med Ethics 2021; 22:41. [PMID: 33827554 PMCID: PMC8028799 DOI: 10.1186/s12910-021-00609-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Suicide research aims to contribute to a better understanding of suicidal behaviour and its prevention. However, there are many ethical challenges in this research field, for example, regarding consent and potential risks to participants. While studies to-date have focused on the perspective of the researchers, this study aimed to investigate the views and experiences of members of Human Research Ethics Committees (HRECs) in dealing with suicide-related study applications. METHODS This qualitative study entailed a thematic analysis using an inductive approach. We conducted semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample (N = 15) of HREC Chairs or their delegates from Australian research-intensive universities. The interview guide included questions regarding the ethical concerns and challenges in suicide-related research raised by HREC members, how they dealt with those challenges and what advice they could give to researchers. RESULTS The analysis identified four main themes: (1) HREC members' experiences of reviewing suicide-related study applications, (2) HREC members' perceptions of suicide, suicide research, and study participants, (3) Complexity in HREC members' decision-making processes, and (4) HREC members' relationships with researchers. CONCLUSIONS Reliance on ethical guidelines and dialogue with researchers are crucial in the assessment of suicide-related study applications. Both researchers and HREC members may benefit from guidance and resources on how to conduct ethically sound suicide-related studies. Developing working relationships will be likely to help HRECs to facilitate high quality, ethical suicide-related research and researchers to conduct such research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Barnard
- Centre for Health Equity, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Georgia Dempster
- Centre for Mental Health, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Karolina Krysinska
- Centre for Mental Health, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Lennart Reifels
- Centre for Mental Health, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Jo Robinson
- Orygen, The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
| | - Jane Pirkis
- Centre for Mental Health, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Karl Andriessen
- Centre for Mental Health, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia.
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11
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Weiger C, Smith KC, Cohen JE, Dredze M, Moran MB. How Internet Contracts Impact Research: Content Analysis of Terms of Service on Consumer Product Websites. JMIR Public Health Surveill 2020; 6:e23579. [PMID: 33263555 PMCID: PMC7744264 DOI: 10.2196/23579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2020] [Revised: 10/13/2020] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Companies use brand websites as a promotional tool to engage consumers on the web, which can increase product use. Given that some products are harmful to the health of consumers, it is important for marketing associated with these products to be subject to public health surveillance. However, terms of service (TOS) governing the use of brand website content may impede such important research. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to explore the TOS for brand websites with public health significance to assess possible legal and ethical challenges for conducting research on consumer product websites. METHODS Using Statista, we purposefully constructed a sample of 15 leading American tobacco, alcohol, psychiatric pharmaceutical, fast-food, and gun brands that have associated websites. We developed and implemented a structured coding system for the TOS on these websites and coded for the presence versus absence of different types of restriction that might impact the ability to conduct research. RESULTS All TOS stated that by accessing the website, users agreed to abide by the TOS (15/15, 100%). A total of 11 out of 15 (73%) websites had age restrictions in their TOS. All alcohol brand websites (5/15, 33%) required users to enter their age or date of birth before viewing website content. Both websites for tobacco brands (2/15, 13%) further required that users register and verify their age and identity to access any website content and agree that they use tobacco products. Only one website (1/15, 7%) allowed users to display, download, copy, distribute, and translate the website content as long as it was for personal and not commercial use. A total of 33% (5/15) of TOS unconditionally prohibited or put substantial restrictions on all of these activities and/or failed to specify if they were allowed or prohibited. Moreover, 87% (13/15) of TOS indicated that website access could be restricted at any time. A total of 73% (11/15) of websites specified that violating TOS could result in deleting user content from the website, revoking access by having the user's Internet Protocol address blocked, terminating log-in credentials, or enforcing legal action resulting in civil or criminal penalties. CONCLUSIONS TOS create complications for public health surveillance related to e-marketing on brand websites. Recent court opinions have reduced the risk of federal criminal charges for violating TOS on public websites, but this risk remains unclear for private websites. The public health community needs to establish standards to guide and protect researchers from the possibility of legal repercussions related to such efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin Weiger
- Department of Health, Behavior & Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Katherine C Smith
- Institute for Global Tobacco Control, Department of Health, Behavior & Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Joanna E Cohen
- Institute for Global Tobacco Control, Department of Health, Behavior & Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Mark Dredze
- Department of Computer Science, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Meghan Bridgid Moran
- Department of Health, Behavior & Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
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12
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Favaretto M, De Clercq E, Gaab J, Elger BS. First do no harm: An exploration of researchers' ethics of conduct in Big Data behavioral studies. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0241865. [PMID: 33152039 PMCID: PMC7644008 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0241865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Research ethics has traditionally been guided by well-established documents such as the Belmont Report and the Declaration of Helsinki. At the same time, the introduction of Big Data methods, that is having a great impact in behavioral research, is raising complex ethical issues that make protection of research participants an increasingly difficult challenge. By conducting 39 semi-structured interviews with academic scholars in both Switzerland and United States, our research aims at exploring the code of ethics and research practices of academic scholars involved in Big Data studies in the fields of psychology and sociology to understand if the principles set by the Belmont Report are still considered relevant in Big Data research. Our study shows how scholars generally find traditional principles to be a suitable guide to perform ethical data research but, at the same time, they recognized and elaborated on the challenges embedded in their practical application. In addition, due to the growing introduction of new actors in scholarly research, such as data holders and owners, it was also questioned whether responsibility to protect research participants should fall solely on investigators. In order to appropriately address ethics issues in Big Data research projects, education in ethics, exchange and dialogue between research teams and scholars from different disciplines should be enhanced. In addition, models of consultancy and shared responsibility between investigators, data owners and review boards should be implemented in order to ensure better protection of research participants.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Eva De Clercq
- Institute for Biomedical Ethics, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Jens Gaab
- Division of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Psychology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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Favaretto M, De Clercq E, Schneble CO, Elger BS. What is your definition of Big Data? Researchers' understanding of the phenomenon of the decade. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0228987. [PMID: 32097430 PMCID: PMC7041862 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0228987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2019] [Accepted: 01/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The term Big Data is commonly used to describe a range of different concepts: from the collection and aggregation of vast amounts of data, to a plethora of advanced digital techniques designed to reveal patterns related to human behavior. In spite of its widespread use, the term is still loaded with conceptual vagueness. The aim of this study is to examine the understanding of the meaning of Big Data from the perspectives of researchers in the fields of psychology and sociology in order to examine whether researchers consider currently existing definitions to be adequate and investigate if a standard discipline centric definition is possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maddalena Favaretto
- Institute for Biomedical Ethics, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- * E-mail:
| | - Eva De Clercq
- Institute for Biomedical Ethics, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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14
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Harlow J, Weibel N, Al Kotob R, Chan V, Bloss C, Linares-Orozco R, Takemoto M, Nebeker C. Using Participatory Design to Inform the Connected and Open Research Ethics (CORE) Commons. SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING ETHICS 2020; 26:183-203. [PMID: 30725245 DOI: 10.1007/s11948-019-00086-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2018] [Accepted: 01/21/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Mobile health (mHealth) research involving pervasive sensors, mobile apps and other novel data collection tools and methods present new ethical, legal, and social challenges specific to informed consent, data management and bystander rights. To address these challenges, a participatory design approach was deployed whereby stakeholders contributed to the development of a web-based commons to support the mHealth research community including researchers and ethics board members. The CORE (Connected and Open Research Ethics) platform now features a community forum, a resource library and a network of nearly 600 global members. The utility of the participatory design process was evaluated by analyzing activities carried out over an 8-month design phase consisting of 86 distinct events including iterative design deliberations and social media engagement. This article describes how participatory design yielded 55 new features directly mapped to community needs and discusses relationships to user engagement as demonstrated by a steady increase in CORE member activity and followers on Twitter.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Harlow
- School for the Future of Innovation in Society, Arizona State University, PO Box 875603, Tempe, AZ, 85287-5603, USA
| | - Nadir Weibel
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr #0404, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Rasheed Al Kotob
- Department of Nano Engineering, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr #0448, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Vincent Chan
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr #0404, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Cinnamon Bloss
- Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr #0811, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Rubi Linares-Orozco
- Office of Regulatory Compliance, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Michelle Takemoto
- Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr #0811, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Camille Nebeker
- Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr #0811, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
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15
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Maher NA, Senders JT, Hulsbergen AF, Lamba N, Parker M, Onnela JP, Bredenoord AL, Smith TR, Broekman ML. Passive data collection and use in healthcare: A systematic review of ethical issues. Int J Med Inform 2019; 129:242-247. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2019.06.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2019] [Revised: 05/15/2019] [Accepted: 06/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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16
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Nebeker C, Torous J, Bartlett Ellis RJ. Building the case for actionable ethics in digital health research supported by artificial intelligence. BMC Med 2019; 17:137. [PMID: 31311535 PMCID: PMC6636063 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-019-1377-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2019] [Accepted: 06/26/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The digital revolution is disrupting the ways in which health research is conducted, and subsequently, changing healthcare. Direct-to-consumer wellness products and mobile apps, pervasive sensor technologies and access to social network data offer exciting opportunities for researchers to passively observe and/or track patients 'in the wild' and 24/7. The volume of granular personal health data gathered using these technologies is unprecedented, and is increasingly leveraged to inform personalized health promotion and disease treatment interventions. The use of artificial intelligence in the health sector is also increasing. Although rich with potential, the digital health ecosystem presents new ethical challenges for those making decisions about the selection, testing, implementation and evaluation of technologies for use in healthcare. As the 'Wild West' of digital health research unfolds, it is important to recognize who is involved, and identify how each party can and should take responsibility to advance the ethical practices of this work. While not a comprehensive review, we describe the landscape, identify gaps to be addressed, and offer recommendations as to how stakeholders can and should take responsibility to advance socially responsible digital health research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille Nebeker
- Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
- Research Center for Optimal Digital Ethics in Health, Qualcomm Institute and School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
| | - John Torous
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Ave, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
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17
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Andriessen K, Reifels L, Krysinska K, Robinson J, Dempster G, Pirkis J. Ethical Concerns in Suicide Research: Results of an International Researcher Survey. J Empir Res Hum Res Ethics 2019; 14:383-394. [PMID: 31291798 DOI: 10.1177/1556264619859734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Researchers and research ethics committees share a common goal of conducting ethically sound research. However, little is known of researchers' experiences in obtaining ethics approval for suicide-related studies. This study aimed to investigate what concerns researchers have received on suicide-related ethics applications and how they dealt with it. Thirty-four respondents, recruited through the International Association for Suicide Prevention, filled out an online survey. The study found that researchers have received important concerns regarding potential harm and researchers' responsibilities to participants. Researchers modified their application and/or consulted their research ethics committee in response to the concerns, which had a positive/neutral impact on their given study. Anticipating concerns and improved collaboration between researchers and research ethics committees should protect the quality of suicide prevention research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Karolina Krysinska
- 1 The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,2 Orygen, The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jo Robinson
- 2 Orygen, The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | | | - Jane Pirkis
- 1 The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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18
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Hokke S, Hackworth NJ, Bennetts SK, Nicholson JM, Keyzer P, Lucke J, Zion L, Crawford SB. Ethical Considerations in Using Social Media to Engage Research Participants: Perspectives of Australian Researchers and Ethics Committee Members. J Empir Res Hum Res Ethics 2019; 15:12-27. [PMID: 31195884 DOI: 10.1177/1556264619854629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Researchers increasingly use social media (SM) to recruit, retain, and trace participants, yet empirical literature investigating the ethics of engaging participants via SM is lacking. We conducted a survey of 401 Australian researchers and human research ethics committee (HREC) members to examine their experience, attitudes, and ethical concerns toward engaging participants via SM. Data revealed that researchers and HREC members share similar concerns and attitudes about using SM in general and in research. We identified a strong demand for additional support, training, and guidance on SM research ethics. This need reflects researchers' and HREC members' limited confidence and knowledge of ethical issues in this context and a lack of awareness of available SM-specific ethical guidelines.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Naomi J Hackworth
- La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia.,Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia.,Parenting Research Centre, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Shannon K Bennetts
- La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia.,Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Jan M Nicholson
- La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia.,Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia.,Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | | | - Jayne Lucke
- La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia.,The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
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19
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Berkout OV, Cathey AJ, Kellum KK. Scaling-up assessment from a contextual behavioral science perspective: Potential uses of technology for analysis of unstructured text data. JOURNAL OF CONTEXTUAL BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcbs.2018.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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20
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Chiauzzi E, Wicks P. Digital Trespass: Ethical and Terms-of-Use Violations by Researchers Accessing Data From an Online Patient Community. J Med Internet Res 2019; 21:e11985. [PMID: 30789346 PMCID: PMC6403524 DOI: 10.2196/11985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2018] [Revised: 11/16/2018] [Accepted: 02/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
With the expansion and popularity of research on websites such as Facebook and Twitter, there has been increasing concern about investigator conduct and social media ethics. The availability of large data sets has attracted researchers who are not traditionally associated with health data and its associated ethical considerations, such as computer and data scientists. Reliance on oversight by ethics review boards is inadequate and, due to the public availability of social media data, there is often confusion between public and private spaces. In addition, social media participants and researchers may pay little attention to traditional terms of use. In this paper, we review four cases involving ethical and terms-of-use violations by researchers seeking to conduct social media studies in an online patient research network. These violations involved unauthorized scraping of social media data, entry of false information, misrepresentation of researcher identities of participants on forums, lack of ethical approval and informed consent, use of member quotations, and presentation of findings at conferences and in journals without verifying accurate potential biases and limitations of the data. The correction of these ethical lapses often involves much effort in detecting and responding to violators, addressing these lapses with members of an online community, and correcting inaccuracies in the literature (including retraction of publications and conference presentations). Despite these corrective actions, we do not regard these episodes solely as violations. Instead, they represent broader ethical issues that may arise from potential sources of confusion, misinformation, inadequacies in applying traditional informed consent procedures to social media research, and differences in ethics training and scientific methodology across research disciplines. Social media research stakeholders need to assure participants that their studies will not compromise anonymity or lead to harmful outcomes while preserving the societal value of their health-related studies. Based on our experience and published recommendations by social media researchers, we offer potential directions for future prevention-oriented measures that can be applied by data producers, computer/data scientists, institutional review boards, research ethics committees, and publishers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Paul Wicks
- PatientsLikeMe, Inc, Cambridge, MA, United States
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