Wassenaar and Mamotte’s (2012) eight ethical principles of research were integrated into this study. When these principles are applied together in research studies, it not only increases ethical standing of the study but also the scientific value of the study (Wassenaar & Mamotte, 2012). The eight principles are collaborative partnership, social value, scientific validity, fair
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selection of participants, favourable risk/benefit ratio, independent ethics review, informed consent, and ongoing respect for participants and study communities (Wassenaar & Mamotte, 2012).
3.12.1. Collaborative partnership
The first principle stipulates collaboration between researchers and the research participants or community in research studies (Wassenaar, 2006; Wassenaar & Mamotte, 2012). The principle is derived from the need to reduce exploitation of research participants and also to ensure that the research is developed from an expressed need of the research participants or community (Wassenaar & Mamotte, 2012). In the study, the researcher worked closely with the participants. The researcher relied heavily on the participation of the research participants in exploring the topic. There was no exploitation of the participants.
3.12.2. Social value
The second principle is focused on the value of the research study to the research participants or community (Wassenaar, 2006). The research study should address questions that are of value to the research participants or community (Wassenaar, 2006; Wassenaar & Mamotte, 2012). The research study should lead to knowledge or interventions that will be of value to the research participants or community (Wassenaar & Mamotte, 2012). Social value in research studies is increased through collaborative partnership with research participants or community and also through the dissemination of results to participants and other stakeholders (Wassenaar & Mamotte, 2012). The study came about as a need to understand career decision-making from students coming from rural communities; where there arefew to no resources available to help students make good career decisions. There will be no interventions implemented in this study; however, the researcher hopes that the data produced by the study will be used by other interested researchers in implementing interventions for students and youth belonging in rural communities to help them make good career decisions.
The results of the study and the final write-up of the study will be made available to the research participants via the University of KwaZulu-Natal library site.
47 3.12.3. Scientific validity
The third principle pertains to how the research methods of the study answer the research questions. The design, sample, method and analysis of the study should be rigorous, justifiable and feasible (Wassenaar, 2006; Wassenaar & Mamotte, 2012). This would then lead to valid answers to the research questions (Wassenaar & Mamotte, 2012). This principle was ensured by the trustworthiness, dependability and transferability of the study. The researcher also ensured that the research questions of the study, the implemented methods of the study and the results connect to each other and are coherent in order to increase the scientific validity of the study.
3.12.4. Fair selection of participants
The fourth principle stipulates that the research participants or community should be those to whom the research question applies (Wassenaar & Mamotte, 2012). The study employed non-probability sampling in order to sample participants that are in line with the research topic. The call to participate in the research study was open to every student who met the criteria for the research study; this was done through invitations via posters, leaflets and recruiting in lecture theatres.
3.12.5. Favourable risk/benefit ratio
The fifth principle requires a fair distribution of research burdens and benefits (Wassenaar &
Mamotte, 2012). The researchers ought to identify possible harms of the research to the participants and specify means to minimize the harms that the risk/benefit ratio is favourable (Wassenaar, 2006; Wassenaar & Mamotte, 2012). A possible harm for this research study was that research participants would have felt uncomfortable or distressed by the questions that were asked during focus group discussions and interviews. Permission was obtained from the Child and Family Centre (CFC) at the University of KwaZulu-Natal to give free counselling sessions with the research participants should a need arise (see appendix 16 for letter from CFC); there was, however, no participant who needed the counselling sessions due to distress from participating in the study. The study was conducted during the
#FessMustFall campaign that was nation wide. The researcher had to pause data collection in
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the year 2016 fearing the safety of research participants, data collection was resumed in March 2017.
3.12.5. Independent ethics review
The sixth principal pertains to research proposals being sent to independent ethics review before data collection commences (Wassenaar, 2006; Wassenaar & Mamotte, 2012).
Competent ethics review ought to maximise the protection of the participants and assess the quality of the research (Wassenaar & Mamotte, 2012). The proposal for the study was sent to the ethics board and ethical clearance was obtained before data collection started. The researcher received the ethics certificate and protocol number allowing the researcher to proceed with data collection (see appendix 4 for letter of approval).
3.12.6. Informed consent
The seventh principle pertains to researchers providing research participants with clear, detailed and factual information about the study, methods, and its risks and benefits (Wassenaar & Mamotte, 2012). Research participants should be assured of the voluntary nature of participation and freedom to refuse to participate or withdrawal from the study without penalties (Wassenaar, 2006; Wassenaar & Mamotte, 2012). The research participants were given the information sheet, which explained the study, the risks, and benefits of the study before the data collection session began. The researcher explained the information sheet to the participants and gave the participants a chance to ask questions related to the study. The participants signed a written consent form agreeing to participate in the study.
3.12.7. Ongoing respect for participants or study community
The last principle requires that the participants be treated with respect during and after a study (Wassenaar, 2006; Wassenaar & Mamotte, 2012). In the study, the participants were assured of confidentiality and privacy. In the focus group discussions, the participants were asked to respect one another’s views and experiences and that the information discussed in the group should remain in the group. The participants were also assured that their
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information would not be easy identifiable in the write-up process and in the dissemination of results process.