UNIT

2
ETHICS AND BUSINESS
RESEARCH

DR.THULASI KRISHNA. K, PH.D.

DEPARTMENT OF MANAGEMENT
STUDIES MITS – MADANAPALLE,A.P.
INTRODUCTIO
N
• Ethics in business research refers to
a code of conduct or expected
societal norm of behaviour while
conducting research.
• Ethical conduct applies to the
organization and the members that
sponsor the research, the
researchers who undertake the
research, and the respondents who
provide them with the necessary
data.
• Ethics in Research Sponsor --Researcher--
Research Respondents
ETHICS IN
RESEARCH
• Ethical Issues of
Research
Sponsorship
• Ethical Issues of
Researchers
• Ethical Issues
relating to the
Respondents/subject
s
ETHICAL ISSUES OF RESEARCH
SPONSORSHIP

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 (misrepresentation) of the truth
leads to future
problems
 ETHICAL ISSUES OF
RESEARCHERS

 Researchers need to be aware of having the

responsibility to secure the actual
permission and interests of all those involved in the study.

 They should not misuse any of the information discovered, and there
should be a certain moral responsibility maintained towards the
participants.

 There is a duty to protect the rights of people in the study as well as

their privacy and sensitivity.
 ETHICAL ISSUES RELATING TO THE
RESPONDENTS/SUBJECTS

The major categories of ethical issues relating to the research

subjects are:

• Sometimes, people are made to participate in a

research project without their knowledge of
consent.

• the consent of the respondents is obtained

without informing them of the purpose of
the research.
• the researcher may find it necessary to give incorrect
information about the proposed research to potential
subjects to manipulate their perceptions and behaviour.

• In studies relating to human values, the social scientists

may create opportunities for research subjects to lie, steal
or cheat.
• Another questionable/non-ethical practice is to expose participants to
physical or mental
stress with a view to studying their reactions.

• Some researchers may dig out information from respondents on private

or personal matters such as marital life or religious faith etc., by
employing techniques of participant observation, in depth interviews
which amount to invasion of privacy.

• Finally, there is the ethical issue relating to the obligation of maintaining

the anonymity of the research respondents and keeping research data
in confidence.
• Thank
You