The National Archive of Grief Support Studies
The National Archive of Grief Support Studies(NAGSS) database provides bibliographical information and summaries of recent articles selected for their relevance to grief and bereavement service providers. The articles that are summarized are selected from scholarly, peer-reviewed journals and are intended to highlight key concepts as well as provide a brief statement of implications for service providers. Bibliographical information may be used to obtain the original article.
Ethical Issues in the Study of Bereavement: The Opinions of Bereaved Adults
Authors:
Beck, Andrea M.
Konnert, Candace A.
Source:
Death Studies: 2007. Volume 31, pp. 783-799.
Summary
This study used two web-based questionnaires to obtain the opinions of bereaved adults regarding participation in grief research. Participants were recruited from five different grief support group message boards. The study results showed that 98 percent of the participants believed that grief research is worthwhile. Participants overwhelmingly believed that grief research could benefit themselves as well as others. Significant benefits from grief research were considered to be the development of a better understanding of the grief process, and providing hope to other bereaved individuals. Participants also reported that they believed it was appropriate to recruit individuals from bereavement support groups for grief research. Informed consent was identified as important; however, most participants stated that they were able to consent to grief research within the first two years after experiencing a death. The authors note that the study was limited to internet users, the majority of whom were white and female.
Key wors: ethic, consent, research, Internet
Service Provider Implications
Service providers, who have often been concerned about protecting the grieving adults they serve, can learn from this study that many of the bereaved find participation in grief research to be a positive experience. Bereaved individuals are often strongly motivated by the altruistic desire to contribute to the knowledge of the grief process. However, before initiating research, it is important to gain the informed consent of research participants.
