As I near the submission of my first-ever ethics form for my PhD research, I’m feeling a mixture of relief, excitement, and a fair amount of nerves. It’s been a long process of carefully crafting each element, from the design of consent forms to the creation of information sheets—each step making me more aware of the weight of responsibility that comes with working with children and young people. While I’m excited to finally get the ball rolling and begin my data collection, the journey to completing this form has been anything but straightforward. Fortunately, my supervisor has been an absolute rock, offering both guidance and encouragement when things felt overwhelming.
The Challenge of Ethics: Why It Matters
Before I can even think about collecting data, I need to gain ethical approval from my university. This might sound like a routine task, but completing the ethics form is a crucial part of any research process especially when your participants are children and young people. The ethics form ensures that every aspect of the research is carefully planned, with safeguards in place to protect participants and uphold the integrity of the study.
My research focuses on exploring how children and young people experience youth custody, which is undeniably a sensitive topic. This means extra care is needed to ensure participants are treated with respect, their privacy is protected, and the potential for harm is minimized. The ethics process forced me to think critically about how to achieve all of these goals, which was both challenging and illuminating.
The Biggest Hurdle: Designing Child-Friendly Consent Forms and Information Sheets
One of the steepest learning curves was designing the consent forms and participant information sheets. Since my research involves children, it was vital that these documents were accessible and simple to understand. But how do you explain concepts like "consent," "confidentiality," and "right to withdraw" to young people, some of whom may have never been involved in research before?
I had to strip back the academic language and rethink how I presented the information. I needed to write the consent forms in plain, simple language, maintaining an approachable tone. It was a real balancing act between ensuring the children had all the information they needed and keeping things clear and non-intimidating.
I found myself asking a lot of important questions while working on the consent forms and information sheets. Would a child feel informed after reading this? Would they feel confident about their rights? It was a challenge to balance the need for clear, simple language while ensuring all the essential information was there. After several drafts and a lot of reflection, I finally reached a point where I felt confident that the documents would make sense to my participants. It was a long process, but achieving this clarity felt like a significant accomplishment.
The Ethics Form's Rollercoaster: Revisions and Further Revisions
The ethics form itself was, in many ways, more complex than I had anticipated. I quickly realised that getting ethical approval isn't just about stating your research goals; it’s about breaking down every tiny detail of how you will carry out your study. Every scenario, from recruiting participants to storing data to handling interview distress, requires meticulous consideration.
I found myself rewriting sections repeatedly. For example, the section on how I’d handle confidentiality in a focus group setting was particularly tricky. While I could anonymise the data later, how do you ensure confidentiality in a room where multiple people are present? This led to many back-and-forth conversations with my supervisor, who always encouraged me to think deeper about each potential challenge. While the process was time-consuming, it also made me feel more prepared to handle the ethical complexities of my research.
There were definitely moments of frustration. I remember thinking, "Can’t I just get on with the research?" But looking back, I understand why these revisions were necessary. Every update made the research design stronger and more ethical.
Managing Risk: Safeguarding and Confidentiality
Another big focus of the ethics form was how I would manage risk, especially given the sensitive nature of my topic. Custody is a difficult subject, and I had to consider what would happen if a participant became upset or disclosed something that suggested harm.
I designed a detailed distress protocol, outlining what I would do if a participant showed signs of distress or disclosed something serious. I also had to think carefully about confidentiality—while I can ensure anonymity in my reports, there are legal and ethical limits to confidentiality if a child discloses that they or someone else is in danger. Balancing this while ensuring that the participants feel safe sharing their experiences was a tricky line to walk, but one that my supervisor helped me navigate.
The Supervisor’s Role: Support and Encouragement
I can’t stress enough how supportive my supervisor has been throughout this process. Their expertise and encouragement made a huge difference, especially when I felt overwhelmed. They provided constructive feedback that pushed me to think critically and thoroughly about each part of the ethics process, but they also reminded me to take breaks and not be too hard on myself when things felt tough.
They helped me understand why certain elements were so important and why they required such care, rather than just what needed fixing. In particular, their insights into the ethics of working with vulnerable groups were invaluable. I felt like I was learning how to be a better researcher, not just ticking boxes to get through the ethics process.
Almost There: Ready to Submit
As I prepare to submit the ethics form, I’m feeling a mixture of relief and accomplishment. It’s taken longer than I initially expected, but I now have a comprehensive plan for my research that I’m confident will protect and respect the children and young people I’ll be working with. Completing this form wasn’t just a hurdle to clear—it was an opportunity to really think through how I can ensure my research is ethical, responsible, and meaningful.
While I still have a lot ahead of me, getting to this point feels like a big milestone. The ethics form has shaped the way I approach my research and reminded me of the importance of putting participants’ needs at the centre of everything I do. With my supervisor’s ongoing support, I’m now ready to move forward with confidence, knowing that I’ve laid a solid foundation for the next stage of my research journey.
Final Thoughts: Learning Through the Process
For anyone else facing their first ethics form, my advice is this: embrace the process. It may feel tedious at times, but it forces you to think critically about the ethical implications of your research. And don’t hesitate to lean on your supervisor; they’ve been through it before and can offer invaluable advice to help you get through the trickier parts.
The ups and downs of completing an ethics form are part of the PhD journey, but with the right support and a commitment to doing things the right way, it’s also a huge opportunity for growth. Now that my ethics submission is almost complete, I can’t wait to see where the next stage of my research takes me.
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