BUSINESS

RESEARCH ETHICS
MAN 314
Dr C Steyn
OUTCOME

Be able to anticipate ethical issues at each stage of the

research process and be aware of the range of
strategies to help you deal with these
WHAT ARE
RESEARCH ETHICS?
RESEARCH ETHICS

▪ The study of the “right” behaviour and

how to conduct research in a moral and
responsible way
Desire to
conduct quality
▪ Ethics are moral principles, norms or research
standards of behaviour that guide our
choices about our behaviour
Ethical issue
(Dilemma)

Rights of
participants
RESEARCH ETHICS IN THE NEWS
WHO: UNTESTED
EBOLA DRUGS ARE
ETHICAL
TWO APPROACHES TO RESEARCH ETHICS
DEONTOLOGY
▪ Ends never justify the means that are
questionable on ethical grounds
TELEOLOGY
▪ The morality of the means has to be judged
by the ends it serves
▪ Benefits of the study are weighed against the
costs of harming the people involved
▪ Apply each approach to the Ebola drugs
Four stakeholders in the research process

Participants

Researchers and research team

Sponsor

Research community
THE RIGHTS OF THE
PARTICIPANT
All research participants have rights

Right to privacy

Right to safety

Right to be informed

Right to choose

Right to respect
THE RIGHT TO PRIVACY

Anonymity

Confidentiality
How to address rights to privacy

▪ Inform participants as to whether the data is anonymous or confidential?

▪ Inform participants of their right to refuse to answer any questions or participate in the
study
▪ Obtain permission to interview respondents
▪ Schedule field and telephone interviews
WHAT ABOUT RIGHTS
TO PRIVACY IN THE
FOCUS GROUP
SETTING?
How to maintain confidentiality

▪ Obtaining signed non-disclosure

documents
▪ Restricting access to participant
identification
▪ Revealing participant information only
with written consent
▪ Restricting access to data instruments
where participant is identified
▪ Non-disclosure of data sub-sets
Right to safety

▪ Non-maleficence
▪ The avoidance of harm
▪ Embarrassment
▪ Discomfort
Right to be informed

▪ Who is doing the research?

▪ Why are you doing the research?

▪ How were they selected to participate?

▪ What are the benefits of participating in the

research?

▪ What will happen?

▪ How long will participation take?

▪ Will any harm occur?

▪ Will confidentiality and anonymity be protected?

▪ What will happen to the data?

▪ Will they receive access to the data?

Deception

▪ When the actual purpose and benefits of

your study must be concealed from the
participants in order to avoid introducing
bias or to protect the
▪ Example: Class observation
▪ Example: Burnout
▪ Example: SAB Beer Study
Debriefing participants

▪ Debriefing involves several activities that

follow the collection of data
▪ Explanation of any deception
▪ Description of the research project, goal or
purpose of the study
▪ Post-study sharing of results
▪ Post-study follow up medical or psychological
attention
RIGHT TO CHOOSE

Voluntary
participation

Informed
consent
WHAT ABOUT
INCENTIVES?
Right to respect

Embarrassment

Hindrance

Offence
THE RIGHTS OF THE SPONSOR
The rights of the sponsor

• Sponsor non disclosure

The right to • Purpose non-disclosure
• Findings non-disclosure
confidentiality

The right to • Provide a research design appropriate to the

research question
quality • Maximise sponsor’s value for the resources
spent
research • Provide data analysis techniques appropriate to
the data collected
THE RIGHTS OF THE RESEARCHER
AND TEAM MEMBERS
ETHICAL OBLIGATIONS TO THE
RESEARCH COMMUNITY
Ethical obligations to the research community
MILGRAM’S EXPERIMENT:
OBEDIENCE TO AUTHORITY
Insert link