mb0050 slides unit 14

C o n f i d e n t i a l

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Program : MBA

Semester : III

Subject Code : MB0050

Subject Name : Research Methodology

Unit Number : 14

Unit Title : Ethics in Research

Lecture Number : 14

Lecture Title : Ethics in Research

Book Id : B1700

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Research Report Writing

Objectives :

● Explain the role of ethics in business research.

● Describe the ethical standards that the client must follow.

● Discuss the ethical responsibilities of the researcher.

● Explain how to protect the rights of the respondent.

● Describe the ethical principles to be followed in the overall

research process.

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Unit-14 Ethics in Research


Lecture Outline

Introduction

Meaning of Research Ethics

Client’s Ethical Code

Researcher’s Ethical Code

Ethical Codes Related to Respondents

Responsibility of Ethics in Research

Summary

Check Your Learning

Activity

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Introduction

● Like every other aspect of the working environment, the research

process also has to be guided and monitored by a code of ethics.

● It becomes important for the researcher:

– To be absolutely ethical and transparent in conducting the study.

– To ensure that no physical or mental harm is caused to the study

respondents.

– To maintain the confidence of the client and not reveal the study findings

and approach in case the client does not want this to be public.

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● ‘Conducting research ethically is concerned with respecting

privacy and confidentiality, and being transparent in the use of

research data. Ethical practices hinge on respect and trust and

approaches that seek to build rather than demolish relationships.’

— Rowley (2004)

● While conducting business research, the approach must be

professional and responsible, the data collection must be

attempted with the respondent's consent under appropriate and

ethically correct methods; and, last but not the least, the

interpretation has to be done in a careful unbiased manner.

- Russeft et al. (1999)

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● To understand the code of ethics involved in research, one needs

to understand the three significant stakeholders involved in any

research, namely:

– The sponsoring clients or decision-makers.

– The respondents from whom one seeks the information.

– The researcher himself/herself while administering and compiling the

study.

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Client’s Ethical Code

● Research is an exchange between the client and the researcher,

where both entities have mutual ethical obligations. In case the

study is being conducted for a business client, complete

transparency in terms of data gathering and interpreting is a

must.

● The client should not steer the results in a specific direction in

order to fulfill a hidden personal agenda.

● The client should not influence the selection of the respondent

population based on vested interests to arrive at a biased

conclusion.

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Researcher’s Ethical Code

● Since the researcher is the most involved and main person

responsible for the study, it is very important that the highest

ethical standards must be maintained by him.

● The ethical code that you should actively pursue as a researcher

can be classified into two focus areas—Quality Control and Privacy

Control.

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● The client and the researcher conduct the research for goals that

are specific to their interests. The respondent is someone who

helps them reach those goals by sharing accurate information.

Therefore, respondents need to be treated ethically and must

follow an ethical code themselves.

● The American Association for Public Opinion Research has

formulated the following code of ethics for survey researchers,

with reference to the respondent:

– We shall strive to avoid the use of practices or methods that may harm,

humiliate or seriously mislead survey respondents.

– Unless the respondent waives confidentiality for specific uses, we shall

hold as privileged and confidential all information that might identify a

respondent with his or her responses. We shall also not disclose or use

the names of respondents for non-research purposes unless the

respondent grants us permission to do so. 9

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Study disclosure

The researcher needs to have complete and transparent information regarding the purpose of collecting data and what sort of information would be required from the respondent.

Coercion and influence

The researcher should not at any stage, either before or during the data collection stage, try to pressurize the respondent through persuasive influence or by forcing him to share information.

Sensitivity and respect

Certain issues such as shoplifting or sexual orientation cannot be handled in a structured, impersonal manner. Therefore, the researcher should devote more time to such cases and also keep the questions more open-ended

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Experimentation and implication

If the respondent will be part of an experimental group that will be subjected to some sort of treatment, for example, a new shampoo trial or an intervention programme that may involve some behavioural change, as a researcher, you should provide complete information regarding the course of the experiment and any risk, even if minimal, that might be involved.

Agreement or consent

Once the researcher has clearly communicated the purpose, the nature and likely outcome of the study, it is advisable to make a mutual written or unwritten contract.

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Responsibility of Ethics in Research

● Besides ensuring that specific protocols and codes be followed for

the two benefactors (the client and the researcher) and the

contributors (the respondents), there are some basic tenets that

you, as a researcher, must not forego

– Professional creed

– Professional confidentiality

– Professional objectivity

Professional creed requires the researcher to be truthful during all phases of

the study, that is, conceptualization, conduction, and presentation.

As a researcher, you should maintain the confidentiality of research

findings. This code of ethics applies not only to you, but also to the

sponsoring client, as well as the respondent.

The researcher as a contributor to the existing body of knowledge must

maintain objectivity while designing the research objectives, collecting

information and interpreting and presenting the findings.

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Summary

● Ethics are extremely important in research and standard guidelines for this

are available from different associations.

● The client must not use pressure to steer the results in the direction they

want.

● The researcher has maximum responsibility in following a code to ensure

quality of reporting, being transparent and yet maintain the privacy of both

the client as well as the respondent.

● Utmost care must be taken at all times to protect the rights of the

respondent.

● The researcher has to be absolutely transparent and objective while

conducting and interpreting the research study results.

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Check Your Learning

1. The most important and vulnerable person in the research study is the

_______ from whom the data is to be collected.

Ans: Respondent

2. The researcher should not reveal any data about the study without the

consent of the client. (True/False)

Ans: True

3. What are the three basic principles of professional ethics that any research

must follow?

Ans: There are three basic tenets that the researcher must not forego:

– Professional creed

– Professional confidentiality

– Professional objectivity

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Activity

● You are given the task of conducting a study with some young

people who are known to be children of broken homes, to assess

whether they could handle organizational responsibilities. How

would you ensure that the study is carried out ethically? What

steps would you take to do this?

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mb0050 slides unit 14

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