Which ethical concern may arise in qualitative research?

In qualitative research, one significant ethical concern is the potential for researchers to overlook or not fully anticipate the various threats that could arise during the study. This concern emphasizes the importance of being aware and prepared for how the research process might impact participants, which often involves complex interactions in naturalistic settings.

Qualitative research typically engages deeply with individuals' experiences and perceptions, which can lead to unforeseen emotional or psychological effects, power imbalances, or potential breaches of confidentiality. By not recognizing these potential threats, researchers might unwittingly harm participants or compromise the integrity of the research findings. This underscores the need for thorough planning, ethical review, and ongoing reflexivity throughout the research process.

The other choices do not embody ethical concerns that are characteristic of qualitative research. For instance, paying participants is common in various studies but does not raise specific ethical issues unique to qualitative methods. Anonymity is often maintained, but not all qualitative research requires complete anonymity depending on the context and nature of the data. Lastly, conducting research without participant contact primarily pertains to quantitative studies or secondary data analysis and raises different ethical considerations than those relevant to qualitative research.