Ethical Considerations When Using Online Research Methods to Study Sensitive Topics

Conducting sensitive topics research online can allow researchers access to a wider range of participants with "sensitive topics" experience; however, additional ethical considerations need to be considered when conducting this research. Online research can either involve active or passive data collection, with each requiring extra thought around consent, anonymity, confidentiality, and data security. Suggestions for how researchers should begin thinking about ethical issues in online research around a sensitive topic are given. What is the significance of this article for the general public? This commentary offers an introduction to the ethical considerations researchers should make when designing online research into sensitive topics with specific suggestions for both passive and active data collection methods.