expression to this in his Categorical Imperative: ‘Act on such maxims as you could will to become universal law’. Our capacity to act on rational moral principles bestows on us the dignity of free moral agents and this leads to a further formulation of the Categorical Imperative: ‘Treat humanity in your own person and that of others always as an end and never only as a means’. This position forms the basis of the code. (August 2009) SECTION A Key Codes of Ethical Research Conduct Code Abbrev- iation Is there a Membership? Particularly valuable for... Link Association of Social Anthropologists ASA Yes but no tribunal to judge members’ activities Anthropological and ethnographic studies;, longitudinal studies on the same people http://www.theasa.org/ethics/guidelines.htm British Sociological Association BSA YES For studies on communities and societies. British Psychological Society BPS YES For research focussing on an individual as a case or, if several individuals, as cases. Economic and Social Research Council ESCRC Applies on a project basis For researchers pitching for ESRC funds or conducting ESRC funded research... ESSENTIAL Market Research Society MRS YES For consumer, customer, business research and social research. Very practical and useful guidelines on special types of research (see below) Research Ethics Guidebook REG NO Social sciences http://www.ethicsguidebook.ac.uk/ Research Governance Framework for Health and Social Care: Second edition NHS Project basis: all NHS research projects to be submitted to NRES for approval The Research Governance Framework outlines principles of good governance that apply to all research within the remit of the Secretary of State for Health. Research governance is one And
This is just to help indicate where important topics or issues are covered. It is not exhaustive and you should read the whole code to appreciate the context of comments and guidelines. Note in this section respondents, research informants, research participants and subjects will all simply be referred to as “respondents” for simplicity. You will need to scroll down because of the length of the list. Topic ASA BPS BSA ESRC MRS REG SRA Issued: Date last checked by FRESC March 1999 August 2010 August 2009 August 2010 March 2002 August 2010 - August 2010 April 2010 August 2010 - August 2010 December 2003 August 2010 Mandatory for ESRC projects Useful Definitions P3 e,f,g Appendix C Page 7 RESPONSIBILITIES The law of the land including the Data Protection Act (DPA) and the Criminal Record Bureau (CRB) (for research with children) Section I (4) I (7) 6, 38 1.17 Appendix D A1,B16 Permission and approval (see “topics” and “in this section” on right of screen covering DPA, CRB and more) Level B (1) (3.4) (4.2) (4.4) (4.7) The assessment of risks I (1) and (2) 2.2 6, 8 1.2.3 And Section 2 1.2.3 Good checklist In “Writing your Proposal” see Topics list on right (all three are relevant) Level B (1.2) (3.4) (4.3) (4.4) (4.6) (4.7) Level C (4) Identification of and dealing with potential conflicts of interest In the Preamble and II (2) and V 1.1 2 Re funders clients etc. 49-56 A2, B3-B5 Receiving Fundings – topics on right Level B 1 and 2 (see risks above too) Responsibilities to funders, employers, sponsors, clients, gatekeepers II 42-61 A3 B6 See Permission and Approval topics on right hand side of Level A (2 and 3) Level B (2) and (3d) and good
screen ethical practice in general Level C (2) Responsibility to respondents, informed consent and recording. (And notes on those who may unfairly be excluded – see SRA) Section I II (3c) (4c) 1.2 and relevant to exceptions based on safety/health issues 3.3, 3.4 10-30 (note 23 on transcripts), 34-39 A3 & Section 2 (consent and coercion B8-B13, B15, B17-46 Note under B10 and see B12 on re-interviewing respondents See both Building Ethics into Your Research and Permission and Approval and Conducting your research “Topics and “In this section” Level B (2.3) (3 for proxies) (4) Level C (all of 4) Good section on not identify nor be identifiable P39 Responsibility to /co-workers, field assistants and research students III 40 A7 Level B (3) Responsibility to colleagues & other researchers in your area III A9, B1 Level B (3) Responsibility to/relations with local and own government IV Method and fitness for purpose 7 and 40 B3 and B14 A6, B3, B4 and B14 Building ethics into the research design – see Topics on right Level B (1.3) (2.2) (2.3) (3.3) (4) Useful checklists 1-6 and... 1.8 Research Stages Appendix A pp33-37 In Writing your Proposal see all three Topics Level C (4)
TECHNICAL Use of secondary datasets and literature P4 1.17.5 Building ethics into the research design – see Topics on right and “In this Section” re literature Level B (4.3c) Times of day for approaching respondents (UK) B20 Special samples e.g. children, the elderly, the infirm, captives (students), overused respondents and... small populations 1.3 29, 30 1.17.4 Section 2 P 30 B27-B33 And Guidelines (see Section E below ) Building ethics into the research design – see Topics on right and “In this Section” and see Legal issues above Level B (4.2) (4.5) Qualitative exercises (inc. briefing respondents) 10-30 Note 23 B34-B42 and (see Section E below ) Building ethics into the research design – see Topics on right and “In this Section” Observation( inc. mystery shopping and ethnographic exercise) 1.2x B43-B47 and see Section E below Building ethics into the research design – see Topics on right and “In this Section” Level B (4a and 4d)
Covert research 31-33 Building ethics into the research design – see Topics on right and “In this Section” Level B 4.3d inc. Deception Online/ Internet research for data collection 41 P32 (useful references) See Section E below Building ethics into the research design – see Topics on right and “In this Section” International research See Section E below Building ethics into the research design – see Topics on right and “In this Section” Using research techniques for purposes Section 2 p32 B48 ANALYSIS AND REPORTING FINDINGS including publicity and publications Dissemination of findings Section III (3) 4 9, 20-24 B49-B64 See Reporting and dissemination Level B (1.2) DATA STORAGE 1.17 B62-B64 Search the site Level B (4.6) and Level C Other useful guidelines Useful Other sources Appendix D Appended and See Related Level C Very