Practical Issues in Planning Research

Abstract

This chapter discusses a number of the key practical issues which arise when researching in the field of communication disorders, particularly focusing on the issues that arise for interdisciplinary research. A number of these issues centre on ethical and professional considerations. Notions of ethics and professionalism are interlinked, in that a guiding set of ethical principles is one of the central defining features of a profession, and guidelines for what constitutes professional behaviour form part of the descriptions of ethical practice. In reading the previous research literature, it is clear that ethical considerations and the preservation of the rights of participants with communication disorders has been a product also of the historical culture over the course of time (e.g. see discussion in Ambrose & Yairi, 2002). The issues raised in this chapter are currently recognized in the international research community, although different countries and institutions will have their own procedures for addressing these issues. This chapter sets out to raise the most common issues for consideration, and researchers will need to identify how such issues are proceduralized within their own communities in order to ensure that they meet their professional and ethical responsibilities within their research context. In particular, it is important to note that generally speaking, researchers also need approval from their own institution before approaching another institution or individual potential participants. For many researchers, the university may be the researcher’s institution if the research is undertaken as part of a coursework or research degree. In such cases, a submission would typically be made to the University Human Ethics Committee or equivalent outlining the proposed project.