HSC Community & Family Studies Practice Questions

One ethical consideration the researcher must address is informed consent. Informed consent requires that participants are fully informed about the purpose of the research, what their participation involves, how their data will be used, and that they have the right to withdraw at any time without penalty. This is particularly important when researching elderly residents in aged care facilities because this group may be considered vulnerable — some individuals may experience cognitive decline, reduced capacity to make independent decisions, or may feel social pressure from staff or family to participate. The researcher must ensure that consent is genuinely voluntary and comprehensible, which may require providing information in plain language, allowing additional time, or in some cases seeking consent from a legal guardian while still respecting the resident's own wishes. Without genuine informed consent, the research would breach the ethical principle of respect for persons and could cause psychological harm by making participants feel obligated or deceived.