TOPIC:

Hi Pird1943. I believe obtaining informed consent in online research is absolutely essential. It is not necessarily because the research can harm the participants but mainly because informed consent is the cornerstone of human subject protection. This means that participants are voluntarily participating in the research with adequate knowledge of relevant risks and benefits. It is the right of the research participants to be informed of possible risks and benefits of the study and to participate with adequate knowledge of the research study. This will protect both you and the research participant.

Just another point on this. Lots of people think that having only an e-mail address is not enough do harm a person. But I think otherwise. I feel that by obtaining the e-mail address, a person can also access other personal details such as full name, telephone number etc. where it can be used to harm the person concern.

I disagree with you on this. From what I see there are two parts to your question.

First of all harm can happen to a participant in an online environment.
Secondly the participant has the right to be informed about the study and its potential risks and benefits prior to taking part in a research study. In this way, the researcher protects himself and his respondents from any conflict.

Is obtaining informed consent really necessary in an online environment. I personally feel that no harm can happen to a participant in an online platform since the researcher hardly meet his participants and therefore has hardly any contact with them other than their e-mail address. So what harm can happen to a participant? does it really matter that I obtain their consent prior to the study?