<aside> ℹ️ This document was primarily authored by Rachel Newcomb (Phase 1) and others on the Lalich Center project team in the spring of 2023. It was later adopted, nearly verbatim, as a formal Tech Fleet policy. See the Tech Fleet User Guide for an updated version.

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Tech Fleet UX Research Ethics

By Rachel Newcomb

Tech Fleet recognizes that some projects require a higher degree of sensitivity and confidentiality due to the nature of the topic stakeholders may be focused on. The following ethical principles should guide all aspects of the work, particularly where research ethics are concerned.

Overall, Tech Fleet project members are expected to:

• Be respectful and compassionate to study participants at all times
• Respect stakeholders, their clients, and the trust they place in us
• Respect social science and research norms associated with research involving human subjects, particularly concerning informed consent.

While these ethics should cover all UX research, we must be particularly cognizant of sensitivity when working with vulnerable populations, who may require additional protections. As defined by the Department of Health and Human Subjects, vulnerable populations include “children, prisoners, pregnant women, fetuses, mentally disabled persons, and economically and educationally disadvantaged persons.” Vulnerable populations may also include those who could be re-traumatized by research or who are in danger of harm as a result of their participation in research.

Therefore, in conducting any UX research involving human subjects, including interviews, surveys, field studies, diary studies, etc, the following best practices should be followed:

• Researchers should ask whether participation in this research is likely to cause participants stress, mental or physical harm.
• Research questions must reviewed by all members of the research team, project leads, as well as people with subject matter expertise, to make sure questions are appropriate.
• Researchers should prepare a script explaining the purpose of the research to participants using plain language and minimal jargon. Researchers must inform participants in advance if any sort of record will be made that could personally identify them, such as through the inclusion of names, voices, or faces. Examples of records includes written notes, transcripts, and audio- or video-recordings.
• Researchers will explain to participants how the data will be analyzed and how findings and recommendations will be used. Researchers should give space for participants to ask questions about the research and its uses.
• Researchers will ensure that data is anonymized and identifying information is not associated with the data
• Participants must be informed that they have the right to withdraw their data from analysis at any point during the study
• Researchers must explicitly inform the participants that if at any time they would like to stop the interview/test, they are encouraged to inform the researcher with no negative repercussions
• Research should be conducted with the minimum number of researchers necessary to accomplish the work (i.e. one interviewer and one note taker). Participants should give consent to the presence of a note taker and anyone else present.
• The purpose of a note taker is to:
  • Observe the research process
  • Ensure information is gathered accurately
  • Follow up with the interviewer to share feedback on any ethical concerns or concerns about how they responded to the participant. Interviewers are expected to openly receive respectful feedback.