Posted by Mitchell on July 2, 2001, at 21:33:00
Hello,
A few months ago, a discussion developed on this site about the ethics of research in which a researcher uses as subjects members of a self-help group operated by the researcher.
At the time, "Dr. Bob" defended his publication of an article based on his own review of his own on-line self-help site. Last week, Bob posted a message at an International Society of Mental Health Online Yahoo group acknowledging errors he committed by publishing that aritcle. Bob is apparently continuing to discuss with the U of Chicago IRB proper procedures for this kind of research, so in fairness, he might have been waiting until he reaches a conclusion to make any further statements here.
I am aware that a majority of the active members of this discussion seemed to whole-heartedly support Bob's publication, and that some of the people who objected to his use of this group have since left or have been barred from participating here. Bob has also discussed on this Admin board some of his second thoughts, but, to me, his admissions here did not seem as frank here as they were to the members of the general ISMHO group. I feel it worthwhile to repost his comments here. I suspect he was as aware of the limitations of privacy in a Yahoo group as were the Psycho-babble members who he quoted in the research article.
Thanks,
S
poster:Mitchell
thread:1532
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20010315/msgs/1532.html