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Ethical Data Collection

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Ethical Data Collection

A student group wants to find out what kinds of lunch options students would like at a community event. Review the scenario and answer each question. For written responses, give a reason where asked.

The survey plan

The group plans to ask students about preferred lunch options. They intend to collect responses during one lunchtime from whoever is in the hall. Their draft form asks for each respondent’s name, year level, dietary requirements, and preferred option. They have not yet decided who will see the responses or how long they will keep them.

1.Select the best first step before inviting anyone to take part in this survey.

Start collecting responses so the group can decide the details later.
Explain the purpose, what participation involves, how responses will be used, and that taking part is voluntary.
Ask respondents to provide their names so their answers can be checked.
Tell students that everyone in the hall is expected to answer.

2.The group wants to report the most popular lunch option, not identify individual students. Name one item on the draft form that may be unnecessary, and explain how removing it could reduce privacy risk.

3.Dietary requirements can be sensitive information. Give two safeguards the group should consider if it is genuinely necessary to collect this information.

4.The group will ask whoever happens to be in the hall at lunchtime. Identify one likely source of sampling bias and describe a group that could be under-represented.

A small set of responses

The group trialled an anonymous form. It asked respondents to choose one preferred option; each response was optional.

Preferred option

Number of responses

Vegetarian wrap

Chicken sandwich

Fruit and yoghurt

No preference stated

5.How many responses are represented in the trial table?

6.What percentage of the 30 respondents selected the vegetarian wrap? Show your calculation.

7.A group member suggests reporting, “Students prefer vegetarian wraps.” Explain why that statement may be too broad, using the trial data and the sampling method.

Ethical decisions in Aotearoa New Zealand

Ethical statistics considers who is involved, whose interests are served, and how information is collected, used, protected, and communicated. When research involves Māori, the group should engage appropriately with relevant Māori communities and consider Māori data interests and tikanga rather than assuming one approach fits every context.

8.A student declines to answer the dietary-requirements question. What should the survey team do?

Ask the student to explain why they refused.
Leave that response blank and continue only if the student wishes.
Guess the answer from the student’s lunch.
Remove the student from the event.

9.Describe one way the principles of partnership, participation, and protection associated with Te Tiriti o Waitangi could inform a data project in Aotearoa New Zealand. Give a practical example connected to the lunch survey.

10.A team member proposes deleting responses that do not support the lunch option the organisers already favour. State whether this is ethical and explain one effect this could have on the statistical conclusions.