Questions

The on-line research strategy that raises the most concerns regarding the ethical principle of respecting the autonomy of research subjects and the corresponding federal regulations requiring informed consent is:

A researcher proposes to join a moderated support group for cancer survivors posing as a survivor. She plans to insert comments to see how the members respond.

This approach is deeply problematic because it involves deception and a lack of transparency. Participants in the support group are likely to believe that the researcher is a fellow survivor sharing their experiences. By not disclosing her true intentions, the researcher violates the principle of informed consent, as the participants have not agreed to be part of a study or to have their interactions analyzed for research purposes. This method also infringes upon the autonomy of the group members, as they are unable to make informed decisions about their participation and the sharing of their personal experiences.

In comparison, the other strategies outlined involve either passive observation in public settings, explicit requests for participation, or the use of publicly shared information, which, while still potentially raising ethical concerns, do not involve direct deception or significant breaches of informed consent to the same extent.