Introduction
This paper is an ethical research statement that outlines the ethical consideration for the research conducted by our group, which was a user experience research on the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) mobile app. The contemporary digital age necessitates User experience (UX) research as a critical component for creating successful online and mobile applications. The study aimed to gain insights into user perceptions, behaviours, and attitudes towards the app to inform future design improvements. The study aimed to gain insights into user perceptions, behaviours, and attitudes towards the app to inform future design improvements. The essay will critically reply to fundamental design thinking, user experience, and cooperative work-group ideas. Intercultural sensitivity to concerns connected to socioeconomic background and its interplay with other diversity and equality features is also a significant consideration when working with various human subjects.
Research design
The research employed a mixed methods design to gain insight into the perceptions, behaviours and attitudes of the application’s users. The data was collected via interviews, surveys, usability testing and heuristic evaluations (Maxwell & Loomis, 2016). The survey consisted of 17 questions, including multiple-choice, Likert scale, and short-answer questions. They were administered through google forms, and the link was posted on Facebook and WhatsApp groups. Interviews were conducted through Zoom. The same questions used in the survey method were asked during the interviews, allowing participants to provide additional context and explanations while exploring the app.
For the usability testing, Participants were asked to perform specific tasks on the app while researchers observed their interactions and noted any challenges or areas of improvement. This was to assess the app’s ease of use, navigation, and overall user experience. Finally, the heuristic evaluation Researchers evaluated the app based on established usability principles and identified areas where the app aligned or deviated from these principles.
Ethical Reflection and practices
In the UX research for the UTS app, we mainly dealt with the students as subjects, with a few members of different faculties included. Ethical Reflection, therefore, acts as a framework for ensuring that all subjects’ rights and privacy are respected. The key aspects of ethical research identified by the team include informed consent, participant privacy and confidentiality, diversity and inclusivity, ethical data handling and decision-making, and transparency in reporting. It is important to note that the team viewed these not as a rigid regulatory framework but rather as a collection of professional tips to improve the research practice and respect all participants’ rights, dignity, and welfare. First, the team had to receive approval from the University of Technology Sydney Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) before conducting the research (Burchet, 2010).
For informed consent, all the participants (for both the survey and interview) were given clear and comprehensive information about the research purpose, procedures, potential risks and benefits, their rights as participants, and how their data would be handled. The participants were allowed to ask questions for clarity and ensure their participation was voluntary. Concerning participants’ data, anonymizing or de-identifying participants private data, securely storing and transmitting data, and limiting access to authorized team members only were conducted (Nijhawan et al., 2013).
The research also had a keen focus on diversity and inclusivity. This was highly important, considering we were dealing with student subjects from various socioeconomic backgrounds. The researchers ensured a diverse pool of participants to capture a range of perspectives and experiences related to the UTS mobile app. Power imbalances between the interviewer and interviewee were also important for the researchers. In handling the analysis and reporting of the data, the team had to adhere to data protection regulations to ensure security and fidelity. In all these processes, participant confidentiality was maintained, and the data were reported with participant anonymity (Dooly & Vallejo, 2017).
The study team made ethical decisions and continued to reflect on them throughout the endeavour. Making study decisions, such as choosing research methodology, recruiting procedures, and data processing strategies, required careful consideration of ethical issues. Findings were reported accurately and honestly without manipulating or misrepresenting the data. The team also acknowledged and discussed any limitations or challenges encountered during the research, providing a comprehensive and transparent study account. To avoid plagiarism during reporting, the UTS-APA referencing format fully references text borrowed from scholarly materials.
Conclusion
The paper develops an ethics research statement for UX research on the UTS mobile app. Key considerations are informed consent, participant privacy and confidentiality, diversity and inclusivity, ethical data handling and decision-making, and transparency in reporting. These led to the development of ethical research that respects participant rights and privacy.
References
Burchett, M. (2010). Research Provider University of Technology, Sydney.
Dooly, M., Moore, E., & Vallejo, C. (2017). Research ethics. Research-publishing. net.
Maxwell, J. A., & Loomis, D. M. (2016). Mixed methods design: An alternative approach. Handbook of mixed methods in social and behavioural research, 1(2003), 241–272.
Nijhawan, L. P., Janodia, M. D., Muddukrishna, B. S., Bhat, K. M., Bairy, K. L., Udupa, N., & Musmade, P. B. (2013). Informed consent: Issues and challenges. Journal of advanced pharmaceutical technology & Research, 4(3), 134.
write