Ethical Challenges in Qualitative Research: A Narrative Review

Abstract

Objective: The inherently interactive, complex, and in-depth nature of qualitative research may give rise to ethical challenges and dilemmas that warrant careful and unavoidable consideration. A precise and realistic understanding of the specific ethical challenges in qualitative research and strategies for their management is of paramount importance. Accordingly, this study was conducted to explore ethical challenges in qualitative research.

Methods: This narrative review was carried out in July 2025 through a systematic search of relevant articles in Medline and Scopus databases, as well as the Google Scholar search engine and the national databases. The keywords “research ethics,” “qualitative research,” and “ethical challenges” were used in English language, covering the period from 2000 to 2025. Out of 41 retrieved articles, 7 met the inclusion criteria and were subjected to narrative analysis.

Results: Ethical challenges in qualitative research can be categorized into 2 major domains: macro-level and methodological challenges and practical or operational challenges. These encompass 5 subcategories, namely policy and organizational challenges, methodological challenges, participant-related challenges, researcher-related challenges, and environmental challenges.

Conclusion: Effective qualitative research requires embedding ethics throughout the entire process, moving beyond formal approvals. This is achieved by cultivating ethical awareness, practicing reflexivity, building trust with participants, and using collaborative approaches. Particular attention to vulnerable groups and thoughtful documentation of ethical decisions are crucial for enhancing the research's rigor and trustworthiness.

Cite this article as: Sobhanifar F, Mirhosseini S, Emami Sigaroudi A. Ethical challenges in qualitative research: a narrative review. Arch Health Sci Res. 2026, 13, 0230, doi:10.5152/ArcHealthSciRes.2026.25230.