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3.10.4 Rationale for using triangulation in this study
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Chapter 3 Research Framework
In order to explore autonomy for older people in residential care, triangulation of
data collection methods will be employed in this study to ensure completeness. This
will enable a complete, holistic and contextual description of the unit of analysis for
this case study.
Further to ensuring rigour in the research process, the researcher must also ensure
that they conduct ethical research.
3.11 Research Ethics
The ethical principles which guide all research projects were outlined in the Belmont
report (National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical
and Behavioral Research ,1979). The basic ethical principles are respect for persons,
beneficence and justice.
Research ethics may also be described as:
“A set of practical philosophical tools that a researcher draws upon to help
reflect on and explore the possible implications of the research for
participants and for the integrity of the research process.”
(Swinton, 2009, pp.26)
The Belmont report states that respect for persons acknowledges that individuals
should be treated as autonomous agents and those with diminished autonomy are
entitled to protection. According to Beauchamp and Childress (1994), autonomy in
research ethics involves respecting the decision-making capacities of the individuals
involved; in other words, it relates to informed consent (the person who is
participating is fully informed). The Belmont report explains that beneficence is
about treating people in an ethical manner by not only respecting their decisions but
also by protecting them from harm and making efforts to secure their well-being.
Beauchamp and Childress (1994) state that beneficence assures reciprocity in
relationships whereby paternalistic attitudes or practices are avoided. The researcher
must be very clear about why the research is being done and precisely what benefits
it will bring (or won’t bring) to the participants and those who will read the report.
Beauchamp and Childress (1994) explain that the principle of beneficence resonates