Case Study 2
1. The risks to this research are relatively minimal, to the researcher. The interviews are most likely to be conducted in a secure setting with security personnel nearby, so being close to the prisoners likely poses little risk. The reality is that the researcher is interviewing prisoners in a closed setting, asking them to recall things that may trigger emotional response, and these are people who have already demonstrated subpar impulse control. There probably will not be any issues, but some safety precautions should be taken to ensure the safety of the researcher in this situation.
There are not that many risks to the prisoners in this situation. However, they are being asked to recount traumatic experiences, so there is the risk of psychological distress, and the prisoner might not be aware of the degree to which this could be traumatic at the time that he/she decides to participate in the study.
There do not appear to be any risks to society as a whole. The research is contained within a specific population, and there is no risk of anything like contagion – it's just an interview.
That said, there are potential benefits to all stakeholders...
The researcher can help advance the study of this topic, at least with a sample size of thirty it's enough to formulate a hypothesis for broader testing later. The researcher will also gain valuable experience, both in terms of study design, in terms of interviewing and also dealing with the IRB, whose input is going to be needed in this particular study.
The prisoners get something to do, but they also may find the experience to be cathartic, especially since it will be used to help others. The majority of the benefits, however, will not be for the prisoners who are participating in the study, but for society as a whole, if there are insights that come from this study that prevent other people from going to prison in the future, which is a distinct possibility.
For society as a whole, the study will help to explore this link, and may help people later to handle traumatic situations better, and reduce criminal activity that occurs subsequent to such trauma.
2. An IRB review is important here, because of the sensitive nature of some of the discussions. The prisoner's rights must be maintained – they are recounting things that…
