The methods for recruiting participants for social and behavioral research on private matters such as sexual behavior or illicit drug use warrant careful analysis. Direct recruitment involves a selection process in which no private information is made available to a researcher until and unless the potential participant has agreed. For indirect recruitment the researcher uses private information on sexual behavior or drug use, obtained from a third party, such as an acquaintance or physician, to identify and recruit potential research participants. Many investigators engaged in research on private behavior argue that restrictions on indirect recruitment impede the ability to construct generalizable samples, thus diminishing the value of the research. This analysis applies the ethical criteria of beneficence, non-maleficence, respect for autonomy, and distributive justice to evaluate direct and indirect recruitment. The conclusions provide guidance to researchers, institutional review boards, and funders for examining the ethical basis of recruitment strategies for studies of sexual networks, illicit drug use, and other private or intimate behaviors.
Learning Objectives: 1. Define the principles of beneficience, non-maleficence, autonomy, and justice in the context of research on intimate behaviors 2. Analyze the effect of indirect and direct recruitment on these principles 3. Recommend guidelines for review boards to analyze recruitment strategies
Keywords: Ethics, Sexual Behavior
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.