Ethics, Ethics Committees, and Qualitative Research
In October I presented on ethics in qualitative research and the challenges faced with ethics committees. The main issue is structural: many studies are reviewed by people unfamiliar with qualitative methods.
In October I presented on ethics in qualitative research and the challenges faced with ethics committees. The main issue is structural: many studies are reviewed by people unfamiliar with qualitative methods. As a result, committees often apply a quantitative lens, demanding things like representative samples, power calculations, or rigid protocols—ignoring that flexibility is part of qualitative rigor. This reflects a scientific culture dominated by quantitative paradigms, not a lack of rigor in qualitative work. The challenge is to transform institutional practices, strengthen training (especially in health sciences), and value methodological diversity as a key strength of science. Special thanks to PUCP’s Vice-Rectorate for Research and the Ethics Committee of the National Institute of Neoplastic Diseases, and to Dr. Yamilée Hurtado Roca for her commitment to improving health research in Peru.
