ETHICS IN BUSINESS RESEARCH

What are Research Ethics?

• Ethics are norms or standards of behavior that guide moral choices about our behavior and our relationships with others
  

 

• The goal is to ensure that no one is harmed or suffers adverse consequences from research activities
  

Ethical Treatment of Participants

• Begin data collection by explaining to the participant the benefits expected from the research
  
• Explain to the participants that their rights and well-being will be adequately protected, and say how this will be done
  
• Be certain that interviewers obtain the informed consent of the participant
  

Deception

• The participant is told only part of the truth or when the truth is fully compromised
  
• To prevent biasing the participants before the survey or experiment
  
• To protect the confidentiality of a third party
  

Issues Related to Protecting Participants

• Informed consent
  
• Debriefing
  
• Right to Privacy/Confidentiality
  
• Data Collection in Cyberspace
  

Ethical Issues related to the Client

• Sponsor non-disclosure
  
• Purpose non-disclosure
  
• Findings non-disclosure
  
• Right to quality research
  

Ethics Related to Sponsor

• Sometimes researchers will be asked by sponsors to participate in unethical behavior.
  
• To avoid coercion by sponsor the researcher should:
  
  • Educate sponsor to the purpose of research
    
  • Explain researcher's role
    
  • Explain how distortion of the truth leads to future problems
    
  • If necessary, terminate relationship with sponsor
    

Ethical Issues related to
Researchers and Team Members

• Safety
  
• Ethical behavior of assistants
  
• Protection of anonymity