Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Ethics in Business Research
Ethics in Business Research
Topic Four
Class Four
Todays Agenda
Review of Assignment RFP What is ethics? Stakeholders in Research I had taken a course in Ethics. I read a thick textbook, heard the class discussions and came out of it saying I hadn't learned a thing I didn't know before about morals and what is right or wrong in human conduct. Carl Sandburg
What is Ethics?
Some years ago, sociologist Raymond Baumhart asked business people: What does ethics mean to you? Among their replies were the following: Ethics has to do with what my feelings tell me is right or wrong Ethics has to do with my religious beliefs Being ethical is doing what the law requires
Stakeholders in Research
Sponsor
Researcher
Subject
Misrepresenting results
Deceiving participants Avoiding legal liability
Deontology
Ethical standards
Ethical Relativism
Issue Based
Sampling
Sponsors right to findings nondisclosure Subjects right of confidentiality Sponsors right to quality research
Data Analysis and Reporting
Researcher
Subject
2. 3. 4.
5.
Pay the researcher fully and on time upon successful completion, regardless of whether or not the results are desirable
Develop a working knowledge of the situation. To do so, interview key decision makers
Communicate exactly what the research can do. Project deliverables Avoid conflicts of interest. Sometimes say no To Decision Makers: Be knowledgeable Interpret results honestly and fully Present limitations of research To Participants: Avoid coercing participants Avoid physical or psychological harm Protect Privacy Inform subjects
3. 4.
5.
Give good-faith estimate of required time commitment State participation is voluntary State item-non response is acceptable Ask for permission
Competence
Knowledge
Elements
Voluntary
Informed
Deception
Disguising non-research activities Camouflaging true research objectives
Debriefing
Explain any deception
Describe purpose Share results Provide follow-up
Participants Confidentiality
Obtain signed nondisclosure Nondisclosure of data subsets Participant Minimize instruments requiring ID Restrict access to ID
Right to Privacy
Right to refuse
Enforceable
Regulate
Specify Behavior
Protect
Instructions: Develop a 10-point ethical-unethical scale of each of the above two situations and interview 10 students