Chapter 6 - Ethical Issues in Research

Question 1

What are Codes of Ethics / ethical considerations?

Answer 1

Codes of Ethics are necessary standards to guide the researchers to behave professionally. These are helpful but do not resolve all ethical issues in research.

Question 2

What are the 4 ethical responsibilities?

Answer 2

1. Range of permissions required for conduct of research

There are two groups from which approval is needed:
- The relevant authorities to carry out the project
Write a letter to the personnel in authority for approval to gain access to sites and to study or interview the sample population. - The participants Obtain informed consent from participants in writing
Get electronic consent from participants to obtain permission if it is an e- survey. Get parental consent before conducting research involving minors (children/ youth under the age of 21)
`Obtain assent from minors (children/ youth under the age of 21).

2. Responsibilities of Researchers

• Researchers are responsible to the authorities, their stakeholders, participants and their collaborators (those who work with the researchers on the project).
• Researchers must be competent in their research area and should not misrepresent themselves or their role in the research process.
• Researchers must not break any laws.
• Researchers must not invent or falsify information
• Researchers must respect their participants
• Never mislead the respondents regarding the purpose of the research.
• Answer their questions about the research to participants’ satisfaction.
• Ask for their permission to continue if there is an interruption.
• Respect their right to refuse to participate or to withdraw at any stage.
• Respect participants’ cultural and religious beliefs
• Do not get emotionally or sexually involved with respondents.

3. Confidentiality of information provided

• Respondents should be given the option not to write their particulars in the survey forms or questionnaires.
• Names of respondents must be kept confidential. Use code numbers instead of names. If there is a need to quote participants in a report or any other documents, get their permission first and do not name them in the reporting documents. Use a pseudonym or code number instead.
• Do not reveal information that can lead to the identification of the respondents. Stories/ anecdotes should be anonymous and written in such a way that readers cannot identify the person(s).
• Ideally, interview notes and completed questionnaires should not have the names of the respondents written on them.
• Notes and questionnaires should be kept locked up and not left lying around.
• Do not gossip about answers or respondents’ personal information with fellow researchers or friends of family.

4. Feedback to research participants

• For small scale research:
  Hold information sessions with families Have small community meetings
• Large scale research:
  Put summaries of findings on notice boards/ websites Share findings with stakeholders/ leaders and encourage them to discuss the findings at their own platforms
  Arrange public meetings through community leaders Call meetings with interest groups/agencies
  Hold workshops with key agency staff

Question 3

What are the Codes of Ethics which one can refer to?

Answer 3

• American Sociological Association’s code of ethics for research
  
  • American Psychological Association’s code of ethics for research
  • Singapore Statement of Research Integrity