Ethicalissues in Research
Ethical issues in Research
Ethics in research is regarded as important to make sure that the principles of respect, justice and avoiding doing harm are maintained by using set standards (Punch 2006). To act ethically the researcher should assure participants’ interest first (Reaves, 1991).However, Urich (2003) stresses that in spite of these principles being universal, their interpretation and application can vary.
Punch (2006) asserts that many research projects especially those related with medical and health must be approved by an ethics committee. However there are exceptions, for example small one hundred hour projects and some educational and social science projects. Nevertheless, the researcher is still required to uphold the organisation’s vetting procedures.
In this essay some ethical issues that researchers consider will be discussed. These include the need for informed consent, confidentiality and anonymity, the implications when negotiating access to the sample and use of quotations and the reporting of findings. Punch (2006) highlights that additional ethical issues are likely to arise in qualitative research as the type of inquiry is likely to be more intrusive than most other methods.
Informed Consent
Informed consent is an important ethical consideration. It is important to gain the willing consent of participants in the research process and to make sure they have adequate information to decide whether to participate (Punch, 2006). Furthermore the researcher must clearly explain the purpose of the research: the main questions to be addressed, who will use the research and how, any issues or risks, what tasks, will be carried out and what will happen to the data collected. Corti et al (2000) doubts the extent to which participants can ever be fully informed and say this issue “is a much disputed one. We should never assume that all participants have a detailed appreciation of the nature and aims of academic research.” p7
The
Ethics in research is regarded as important to make sure that the principles of respect, justice and avoiding doing harm are maintained by using set standards (Punch 2006). To act ethically the researcher should assure participants’ interest first (Reaves, 1991).However, Urich (2003) stresses that in spite of these principles being universal, their interpretation and application can vary.
Punch (2006) asserts that many research projects especially those related with medical and health must be approved by an ethics committee. However there are exceptions, for example small one hundred hour projects and some educational and social science projects. Nevertheless, the researcher is still required to uphold the organisation’s vetting procedures.
In this essay some ethical issues that researchers consider will be discussed. These include the need for informed consent, confidentiality and anonymity, the implications when negotiating access to the sample and use of quotations and the reporting of findings. Punch (2006) highlights that additional ethical issues are likely to arise in qualitative research as the type of inquiry is likely to be more intrusive than most other methods.
Informed Consent
Informed consent is an important ethical consideration. It is important to gain the willing consent of participants in the research process and to make sure they have adequate information to decide whether to participate (Punch, 2006). Furthermore the researcher must clearly explain the purpose of the research: the main questions to be addressed, who will use the research and how, any issues or risks, what tasks, will be carried out and what will happen to the data collected. Corti et al (2000) doubts the extent to which participants can ever be fully informed and say this issue “is a much disputed one. We should never assume that all participants have a detailed appreciation of the nature and aims of academic research.” p7
The
References: Babbie, E. (2010) The Practice of Social Research. 12th ed. Belmont: Wadsworth Cengage Learning Bell, J Corden A. and Sainsbury, R. (2006) Using verbatim quotations in reporting qualitative Social Research: Researchers’’ views. Social Policy Research Unit: University of York. Denscombe, M. (2002) Ground Rules for Good Research: a 10 point for social researchers. Maidenhead: Open University Press Eckstein, S Gray, D, E. (2009) Doing Research in the Real World 2nd ed. London: Sage Publication McLaughlin, H Monette, D .N. (2010) Applied Social Research. A tool for Human Services, 8th ed . Belmont: Brooks/Cole Punch, K.F Reaves, C. (1992) Quantitative Research For The Behavioural Science. New York: John Wiley & Sons. Social Research Guidelines (2003) Ethical Guidelines Online [available] http://www.the-sra.org.uk/documents/pdfs/ethics03.pdf accessed 14/02/2012