Chapter 2

Ethics in
Business
Research

McGraw-Hill/Irwin
Business Research Methods, 10e Copyright © 2008 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
 2-2

Learning Objectives

Understand . . .
• What issues are covered in research
ethics.
• The goal of “no harm” for all research
activities and what constitutes no harm for
participant, researcher, and research
sponsor.
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Learning Objectives

Understand . . .
• Differing ethical dilemmas and
responsibilities of researchers, sponsors,
and research assistants.
• Role of ethical codes of conduct in
professional associations.
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Ethical Issues
at all Stages of the Research Process
 2-5

Ethical Treatment of Participants

Explain
Explain study
study benefits
benefits

Explain
Explain participant
participant
rights
rights and
and protections
protections

Obtain
Obtain informed
informed
consent
consent
 2-6

Components of Informed Consent

• Identify researchers • Give “good-faith”

• Describe survey topic estimate of required
• Describe target time commitment
sample • State participation is
• Identify sponsor voluntary
• Describe purpose of • State item-non
research response is
acceptable
• Promise anonymity
• Ask for permission
and confidentiality
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Characteristics of
Informed Consent

Competence

Knowledge Elements Voluntary

Informed
 2-8

Ethical Responsibilities

Special guidelines
apply to children!
• Informed consent
means parental
approval.
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Deception

Disguising
non-research
activities

Camouflaging
true research
objectives
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Debriefing

Explain
Explain any
any deception
deception

Describe
Describe purpose
purpose

Share
Share results
results

Provide
Provide follow-up
follow-up
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Participant Confidentiality

Obtain signed
nondisclosure

Non-
Non- Restrict
Restrict
disclosure
disclosure of
of access
access to
to ID
ID
data
data subsets
subsets

Minimize
Minimize Reveal only
instruments
instruments with written
requiring
requiring ID
ID consent
 2-12

Right to Privacy

Right
Right to
to refuse
refuse

Prior
Prior permission
permission to
to
interview
interview

Limit
Limit time
time required
required
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The U.S. Safe Harbor Agreement

Notice
Notice Choice
Choice Access
Access

Onward
Onward
Security
Security Transfer Data
Data Integrity
Integrity
Transfer

Enforcement
Enforcement
 2-14

Confidentiality

Sponsor
Sponsor Nondisclosure
Nondisclosure

Purpose
Purpose Nondisclosure
Nondisclosure

Findings
Findings Nondisclosure
Nondisclosure
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What To Do If Coerced?

Educate Explain
on problems
purpose

Emphasize Terminate
fact-finding relationship
role
 2-16

Effective Codes of Ethics

Enforceable
Enforceable Regulate
Regulate

Specify
Protect
Protect
Behavior
 2-17

Key Terms

• Code of ethics • Nondisclosure

• Confidentiality – Findings
• Debriefing – Purpose
• Deception – Sponsor
• Ethics • Right to privacy
• Informed consent • Right to quality
• Right to safety