Nursing students' experiences with the Elsevier Reach examination

Politics & Ethics in Qualitative Research.

The setting for this research facility will be on or off-campus facilities that offer testing complying with the requirements of the Elsevier Reach Exit Examination board. Such a place may be located on or off campus, or in a hospital or other facility as required by the test administrator.

Access Strategies

To access this site, the researcher will need to talk with the head or chief administrator of the student organization and the individuals conducting and maintaining the exit examination and data. Problems that may be encountered include questions of ethics and morality. To help assuage some concerns, the researcher will present the institution with an outline of the study including the research objectives and goals, and provide the institution with copies of the results to disseminate appropriately as requested. All participants will be given the opportunity to participate in the study anonymously to prevent any unnecessary fear or bias from influencing the results of the study. The researcher will also inquire with multiple institutions, in the event one facility will not allow the researcher to conduct study. The researcher has an obligation to meet with examiners and to sign contracts or NDA regarding the subject matter of the tests and the identity of test or study participants. A full disclosure of the study purpose and methods will be provided to all parties involved in the research to help establish trust among participants and governing bodies.

Exit Plans and Ethical Considerations

To exit the field gracefully and to close out individual interviews, the researcher will ask study participants to fill out a review form. This form will allow students the opportunity to rate the study and the examiner participating in the study. The students will have an opportunity to reflect on their experiences, allowing them the "benefit of the doubt" and ample consideration before the researcher exits the student environment. The researcher may also offer students an opportunity to identify whether they desire copies of the results sent to them, which will often appease students that are hesitant to participate in the study. The researcher in doing so will appear more confident and confident when interacting with students.

Ethical considerations specific to the study include maintaining the privacy of students participating in the study. Other factors that should be considered will be the objectivity of the researcher's interpretation of the results. To maintain the highest integrity the researcher will ensure the results of the study are peer reviewed to prevent any subjective bias from entering the results and interpretive environment. Students will be allowed the opportunity to present their opinions anonymously so test results are as accurate as possible without compromising the identity of those enrolled in the study program. Students that do not perform as well as their peers will not be perceived any differently than students that do, except perhaps on indirect variables which may include socio-economic factors or previous education.

Reference:

Finlay, L. (1995). Applying phenomenology in research: problems, principles and practice. The British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 62(1): 299-304