Exploratory Health Disparities Research: The Need to Provide a Tangible Benefit to Vulnerable Respondents

Abstract

This article examines the responsibilities of researchers who conduct exploratory research to provide a service to vulnerable respondents. The term “service” is used to denote the provision of a tangible benefit in relation to the research question that is apart from the altruistic research benefits. This article explores what this “service” could look like, who might be responsible for providing it, and the challenges associated with such a service. The article argues that not providing a tangible benefit to vulnerable research participants is inconsistent with the principle of social justice that undergirds much of the rationale for conducting health disparities research.

Keywords:

• health disparities
• service
• benefit
• ethics
• social justice
• vulnerable

Notes

Maghboeba Mosavel completed this work while affiliated with Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH. Dr. Mosavel is currently affiliated with Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA.

¹Hypertension study funded by NIH–National Center on Minority Health: 5 P60 MD00265.

²Research funded by NIH NCI R03 CA113086-01A1.

³We thank the anonymous reviewer for his or her insightful comments.