Web Based Survey Software

Although Web based survey software addresses most basic research needs, there are a few critical areas it often neglects. In particular, few software packages provide guidance on handling the ethical dilemmas that arise with online research. Given this, it is always a good idea to seek professional counsel at the outset of any new investigation.

To be sure, Web based survey software makes things quite easy. It can do any number of things, from helping you to format an aesthetically pleasing questionnaire to assisting with basic issues of data analysis. What it cannot do, however, is serve as a moral compass for researchers who work online.

Ethical Issues and Web Based Survey Software

Those who work in university settings are familiar with Institutional Review Boards (IRBs). These committees exist to protect the people who participate in research and to ensure that there is a favorable cost:benefit ratio to each and every study conducted on campus. A central part of any protocol application involves explaining in detail how you will apprise participants of the potential risks of study involvement.

Within this framework, "risks" are defined broadly, with the idea that sometimes, simply talking about a stressful subject (e.g., finances) can produce unrest or discomfort. Participants must enter any research study fully informed of potential risks, a matter that is often overlooked by Web based survey software programs. As always, your best bet for conducting an ethically informed study is to know the rules and to seek professional consultation as needed.