A note on gatekeeper and gatekeeper informed consent form: for MBA and Housing Studies students

A note on gatekeeper and gatekeeper informed consent form: for MBA and Housing Studies students (information from perplexity.ai)

My question 1: "What are gatekeeper and gatekeeper consent form all about with reference to research ethics in MBA and Housing Studies dissertation projects?"

The reply: "Gatekeepers and gatekeeper consent forms play a crucial role in research ethics, especially in dissertation projects within fields like MBA (business management) and Housing Studies, where access to participants or data often involves navigating organizational or community structures.

What is a Gatekeeper?

A gatekeeper is an individual or authority who controls access to potential research participants, data, or research sites. Their role is to protect the interests of participants and ensure they are not pressured into participation. Gatekeepers act as intermediaries or buffers between the researcher and participants, facilitating access while safeguarding ethical standards and participant autonomy. For example, in a university setting, a head of department might be a gatekeeper who must approve access to staff or students for research.

Gatekeepers do not give consent on behalf of participants; rather, they grant permission for the researcher to approach or recruit participants within their domain or organization. This distinction is important ethically because individual participants must still provide informed consent themselves.

Gatekeeper Consent Form

A gatekeeper consent form is a formal document used to obtain permission from the gatekeeper to allow the researcher to access the site, participants, or data. This form is part of ethical research practice to respect organizational autonomy and participant protection.

Typical Contents of a Gatekeeper Consent Form

• Title of the Study: Clear identification of the research project.

• Introduction and Purpose: Explanation of the researcher’s identity, the study’s aims, and why gatekeeper assistance is needed.

• Role of the Gatekeeper: Description of what the gatekeeper is being asked to do, such as facilitating access or distributing materials, clarifying that their role is limited to facilitation.

• Participation Details: Explanation that participation by individuals is voluntary, confidential, and what participation involves.

• Data Access and Confidentiality: Information on who will access the data, confidentiality assurances, and conditions under which confidentiality might be broken.

• Use and Dissemination of Results: How findings will be used, including publication or dissertation submission.

• Contact Information: Researcher and supervisor contact details for questions.

• Consent Statement: Declaration that the gatekeeper agrees voluntarily, understands their role, can withdraw consent anytime without consequences, and acknowledges confidentiality.

• Signatures and Dates: Spaces for signatures of both gatekeeper and researcher.

Importance in MBA and Housing Studies Dissertation Research

• MBA/Business Management: Gatekeepers often are organizational leaders or managers who control access to employees, corporate data, or facilities. Getting their consent is essential to ethically and legally access participants or sensitive company information.

• Housing Studies: Gatekeepers may be community leaders, housing managers, or officials who control access to residents or housing-related data. Their consent ensures research respects community protocols and protects vulnerable populations, especially in disadvantaged or hard-to-reach groups.

Ethical Considerations

• Gatekeeper consent is required when research involves participants affiliated with an organization or institution, or when access to the research setting is controlled by an authority.

• Ethics committees often require gatekeeper approval before granting ethical clearance.

• Gatekeepers help ensure that participants are not coerced and that organizational policies and confidentiality are respected.

• However, gatekeeper consent does not replace individual informed consent from participants.

In summary, gatekeepers and gatekeeper consent forms are essential ethical tools in MBA and Housing Studies research to manage access, protect participants, and comply with institutional and ethical regulations. They ensure research is conducted with proper permissions while maintaining participant autonomy and confidentiality."

My question 2: "How to tell whether a person is the proper gatekeeper to contact and seek for the signature of his/ her on on the gatekeeper informed consent form in this case? And under what situation is it too trivial to ask someone to act and sign on the gatekeeper informed consent form?"

The reply: "To determine whether a person is the proper gatekeeper to contact and seek their signature on a gatekeeper consent form in MBA or Housing Studies dissertation research, and when it might be unnecessary or trivial to request such consent, consider the following points:

How to Identify the Proper Gatekeeper

• Authority to Grant Access: The proper gatekeeper is someone who has formal or informal authority to grant or deny access to the research participants, data, or site. This could be a manager, director, head of department, community leader, or administrator responsible for the organization or group relevant to your study.

• Recognized by the Community or Organization: The gatekeeper should be trusted and regarded by the target community or organization. They should have the necessary understanding of the research context and the capacity to facilitate access ethically and effectively.

• Role in Research Governance: In institutional settings such as companies, schools, or housing associations, the gatekeeper is often the person responsible for research governance or participant protection, e.g., an HR manager in a company or a housing manager in a housing study.

• Willingness and Capacity to Assist: The gatekeeper must be willing to cooperate and have the time and resources to assist with recruitment or access. If they are unable or unwilling, alternative gatekeepers or back-up plans should be considered.

• Distinct from Participant Consent: The gatekeeper’s role is to permit access, not to provide consent on behalf of participants. Individual participants must still give their own informed consent.

When It Is Too Trivial to Ask for Gatekeeper Consent

• Public Spaces and Observational Studies: If the research involves only observing people in public spaces without interaction or intervention, gatekeeper consent is generally not required.

• Direct Access to Participants Without Organizational Control: When participants are independent and not affiliated with an organization that controls access, or when the researcher can directly approach participants without needing organizational permission, gatekeeper consent may be unnecessary.

• Minimal Risk and Non-Intrusive Research: In cases where the research is very low risk, non-intrusive, and does not involve sensitive data or vulnerable populations, gatekeeper consent might be waived or considered unnecessary.

• Informal or Non-Official Gatekeepers: If the person approached does not have formal authority or recognized responsibility to grant access, their consent is not valid as gatekeeper consent.

Summary

 

Criteria for Proper Gatekeeper	When Gatekeeper Consent Is Not Needed
Has formal/informal authority over access	Research in public spaces without participant interaction
Recognized and trusted by the community	Direct access to participants without organizational control
Responsible for research governance or participant protection	Minimal risk, non-intrusive research
Willing and able to facilitate access	Person lacks formal authority or responsibility

 

In practice, before seeking gatekeeper consent, verify the organizational structure or community leadership to identify who holds legitimate authority over access. If unsure, consult your ethics committee or supervisor. Avoid requesting gatekeeper consent from individuals without clear authority, as this can delay research and undermine ethical compliance. Conversely, do not omit gatekeeper consent when access involves controlled environments or vulnerable populations, as this is essential for ethical integrity and participant protection."

A collection of blog notes on using chatgpt for research purpose.