Subject: Research Methodologies

Topic: Research Ethics

Week: 04

Submitted by: Naheed Hussain

PhD Student
Submitted to: Dr. Sara Holz
Q.1). What are the main features and components of ethical research?

Ans. Ethical issues are specially dealt in medical and nursing research, however the principles
of ethics are applicable to research in general.
According to Schnell and Heinritz (2006: 17) “research ethics addresses, the ethically
relevant issues that are caused by the intervention of the researcher and that has in impact on the
people with or about whom they researched. This is in additions to the steps taken to protect the
subjects/participants/respondents.
Shnell and Heinritz (2006:21-4) also provided a set of principles concerning ethics of
research which are as follows:
1. To justify the purpose of carrying out a research
2. To explain the aim of the research and the circumstances in which the participants take
part.
3. To analyze the methodological procedure in the research
4. To estimate the negative and positive impact of the research on the respondents.
5. To assess the damages arising from the research before starting the research.
6. To take measures for preventing the damages
7. To avoided making false statements about the usefulness of the research
8. To respect the current rules and regulations of data protection.
Murphy and Dingwall (2001:339) also proposed an ethical theory which is based on 4
Principles:
1. Non-maleficence
2. Beneficence
3. Autonomy or self-determination
4. Justice
These principles are universally applied to research in general. The basic aim of these
principles is to make the research procedure transparent, avoid harm to the respondents and to
protect the data. The participants should be voluntarily taking part and be well informed about the
research being carried out.
The important septs/ components that must be fulfilled in carrying out the research include:
1. Informed Consent
2. Confidentiality/Privacy
3. Anonymity
4. Data Protection
 1. Informed Consent:
Informed consent is designed to protect an individual’s autonomy. The
respondents must have sufficient information about the research, must
understand that information and should be willingly participating.

2. Confidentiality/Privacy:
The respondents should choose when and with whom to share information
about themselves. The information provided by the participant should be
known to the research team and other authorized individuals only.
3. Anonymity
An anonymous data means that a respondent cannot be determined
through his or her data. Even a researcher cannot identify a respondent in
a truly anonymous data. Factors that determine the anonymity of a data
are:
1. Study design: Researcher must select a study design that includes only
a single interaction with participants e.g. an interview. Because in
study designs such as longitudinal study (with multiple interaction
with the same respondent) anonymity is unrealistic.

2. Method of Collecting data: face to face interviews, videos or audios

recording are not consider anonymous.

3. Type of data: specific information about a respondent cannot be

collected. However age, gender, ethnicity combine together can even
identify a person.
It is therefore difficult to ensure true anonymity of a data.
5. Data Protection
An important steps in a research process is to keep the date safe, in order
to ensure data anonymity and confidentiality.
1. Physical Security: paper copies, electronic devices, excess codes and
passwords should be secured.
2. Digital Security: laptops, tablets, mobile phones, USBs should be taken
care of.
Conclusion: Principles of ethics in social research play an important role. By following principle of
ethic or different codes of ethics make our research easy and real. These codes are flexible
towards the mod of studies, societies and communities. If we consider the experience of Ms.
Saiqa Imtaiz asif from the reading obligations, roles and rights we can easily understand the
importance of ethic codes in research. She has very beautifully dig out her required data from
the Seraiki community of Multan by utilizing the ethic of research codes within the ethic of
societal code. Which prove that ethical behavior conforms to generally accept social norms.

Q.2). How can researchers ensure that they do no harm when they conduct research?
Ans. In social research the word harm is generally referred to psychological distress, anxiety,
social disadvantage, intrusion of privacy or violation of rights which is concerned with” human
subject”. Non-maleficence and benefice are the two important principles of ethics followed in
the field of research. It is an utmost responsibility of a researcher to follow the codes of ethics.
The credibility of a research depends not only on using the right resources but also on maintaining
ethical standards.

The four basic principles of ethics that must be followed by a researcher in any field are:
1. Non-maleficence
2. Beneficence
3. Autonomy or self-determination
4. Justice
Also different associations and researchers have developed guidelines on the issue of ethics in
research, that ensure that the researchers considers the ethical issues and risks while carrying out
a research and that also safeguard the participants of the research from any harm.
However Local Universities and institutions must devise the code of ethics according to
the societal norms, because the universal codes of ethics generally fail in divergent
circumstances. Especially in Pakistan there is a dire need of developing local ethical codes in the
field of research and into ensure that the researchers apply these codes.
In the reading “Obligations, Roles and Rights, Research ethics revisited” Ms. Saiqa Imtiaz
Asif discussed in detail her field experiences. She explains how she changed her methodology
according to the local culture without creating any disturbance in the environment or harming
the participants or creating any trouble for herself.
I would also like to share my experiences during my research on Sikh community in district
Peshawar.KP is a hub of diverse religious communities and all these communities are living very
peacefully in its different parts. But after 9/11 the situation took a new turn. Most of the religious
communities migrated abroad. Those who stayed changed their way of life or kept their identities
secret. Similarly, it was harder for the Sikhs to work within Muslim community, likewise it was
difficult for me to conduct my research in such a minority who had already limited their
boundaries with the Muslims and considered that mingling with them would endanger them and
their religion. I had to clarify and justify my research objectives to them and ensured them about
their safety. It was a time consuming task however, I struggled hard and was able to develop trust
among the Sikh community to allow me to conduct my research easily.
 The second experience I faced was the Panch system of the sikh community. In the Panch
system only the elder of the community/family talk to the outsider. Initially this practice made
me stressed and confused if the information provided was truly reflecting the community or
whether it was actually the panch to decide what information should be shared. I was in doubt if
the participants really know about the objectives of my work. But later my frequent visit and also
sharing my personal information with them and showing them my university authority latter,
being a part of their rituals, I succeeded in developing a trust among them and they started to
believe that I and my research will not cause any harm to their community and their religion. And
latter they allowed me to visit their community anytime and collect information from anywhere
I wanted, but I always very limited to the female section. These are cases of intrinsic and extrinsic
vulnerability.
The third experience was lack of education most of the sikh community in Peshawar
district belong to business class but with a very low rate of education. I want to give the actual
picture of my work and also did not want to misguide the participants. After some frequent
meeting to their homes and worships places I tray my level best to explain them my research
objectives those who are literate, for them i develop a questioner in Urdu and local language. All
the consents were given of their free well. Those who were very concerned about their financial
status and did not want to exposed it. I keep their identities confidential. Here I also focus on
my observation to judge their economic status.