SOC221H5 Chapter Notes - Chapter 3: Scientific Misconduct, Institute For Operations Research And The Management Sciences, Psychological Abuse
Document Summary
Ethics include the concerns, dilemmas and conflicts that arise over the proper way to conduct research and helps us define what is or isn"t legitimate. This process isn"t simple because there are a few ethical absolutes and one agreed-upon broad principles. Ethical issues ask you to balance between 2 values: the pursuit of knowledge and the rights of research participants in society. Social researchers balance potential benefits against potential costs as they have a moral, professional obligation to be ethical. To do professional social research, you must know the proper techniques and be sensitive to ethical concerns but this is not always easy. A researcher"s strong personal moral code is the best defense against unethical behavior. A researcher should reflect on his/her ethics of research and consult with their conscience throughout the study. Most ethical behavior by researchers is due to a lack of awareness and to pressures on researchers to take ethical short cuts.
