An overview of the ethics of cyber-space research and the implication for nurse educators

Abstract

This paper provides an overview of the techniques available to the cyber-space researcher together with a consideration of the specific ethical issues that such research generates. It is acknowledged that these research methods are, at present, not widely utilised within health care sciences, thus this paper draws upon the experiences and debates that are current within other disciplines, predominantly those of the social sciences. The primary areas of ethical concern are suggested to be those surrounding consent, privacy, identification verification and disguise. These issues are further considered for their implications for nurse educators and for those academics that are either undertaking cyber-space research of their own or supervising student's Internet-based research projects.