What does a researcher safety plan require?

Safety of the researcher is a component of the safe and ethical conduct of research.  Students who are collecting data in the field in a private or secluded locations should have a safety plan prior to contact with subjects in the field.  The content of the plan and detail in the plan is dependent on the risk level of the study and the locations where data will be collected but must account for the safety of the researchers.  At a minimum, the plan should include a buddy system, a positive notification (someone you call before you go to the home of the subject to collect data and call again upon leaving the subject home, who will send help if you do not check back in within the expected time-frame) and a plan for how to handle the emotional content of the intended interview vetted through your faculty adviser/mentor.  The faculty adviser should be fully aware of the time and place of all interviews that take place in secluded or private locations.  If the content of the data collected is likely to cause significant emotional upset or a strong emotional response, students should not conduct the study without appropriate faculty support.

Last updated: 2/21/2023