SOAN 2120 Chapter : ethics in social research

• School: University of Guelph
• Department: Sociology and Anthropology
• Course: SOAN 2120
• Professor: Scott Schau

Document Summary

Ethics include the concerns, dilemmas and conflicts that arise over the proper way to conduct research. Many ethical issues ask you to balance two values: the pursuit of knowledge and the rights of research participants or of others in society. Ultimately, ethical research depends on the integrity of an individual researcher. The best preparation for ethical behavior is to internalize a sensitivity to ethical concerns, to adopt a professional role, and to interact with other researchers. Moreover, the scientific community demands ethical behavior without exceptions. It also includes significant departures from the generally accepted scientific practices of doing and reporting on research. Research fraud occurs when a researcher fakes or invents data he or she didn t collect, or fails to honestly and fully report how he or she conducted the study. Some ethical issues involve an abuse of power and trust. A professional researcher and the research participants or employee-assistants are in a relationship of unequal power and trust.