APPLYING A FRAMEWORK TO CONDUCT ETHICAL DESIGN RESEARCH AND PRACTICE WHEN WORKING ON SENSITIVE TOPICS WITH VULNERABLE PARTICIPANTS

In a world where generative AI has become pervasive it is important that we maintain ethical standards when conducting design research and practice and even more so when that is around sensitive topics and or with vulnerable participants. This paper builds on previous research [1] where a framework was developed to guide students when conducting research and practice. This paper explores how the framework is adopted across four case studies of student design projects where the topics have been sensitive and involved vulnerable participants at various stages and to varying degrees. Case study analyses follows a description of these projects in applying the framework. This paper firstly reintroduces a framework developed by the authors that guides design students when conducting design research. Case studies are presented showing how the framework was implemented and an analysis follows where a discussion unpacks key questions around the efficacy and effectiveness of the framework. These questions address how useful the framework is in guiding the student as to when it was appropriate to involve participants; how it did or did not provide the most useful methods to work with participants; what alternative methods of research and testing are appropriate and sufficient; how participant's expectations were managed, and guidance around means of payback for people's participation. The paper continues by evaluating the appropriateness and usefulness of the framework to facilitate and guide students over the course of a project while also protecting vulnerable participants, before concluding by offering a revised version of the framework.