"Challenging Ethical Issues in Doing Research on Interpersonal Violence"

Doing research in the different areas of interpersonal violence often presents considerable ethical challenges, many of which have no agreed upon answers. In fact, the ethical decisions associated with interpersonal violence research frequently inspires heated debate. This panel of senior researchers, each of whom has worked in different areas of interpersonal violence, will discuss the real world ethical issues they have confronted, and present how they have attempted to meet them. The purpose of the panel is not to offer ready answers to these ethical dilemmas, because frankly, they don’t exist. Rather the panel is intended to inspire thought and discussion among the participants about these issues, and collaborative potential solutions. Dr. Saunders will discuss ethical issues in research on child and adolescent victimization research. Dr. Campbell will share ethical dilemmas she has encountered conducting research on intimate partner violence. Dr. Williams will report on ethical challenges she has met in conducting research on child and adolescent prostitution and trafficking. Each panelist will take about 15 minutes discussing ethical issues in their work, and the rest of the time will be spent in panel reaction and audience discussion.