Draft Ethical Guidelines

Institute for Employment Studies

Social Research Association

Approach taken

Collecting existing ethical guidelines

Literature on research ethics

Contacting experts

The importance of guidelines

Why we need guidelines

Why yet another set of guidelines

Guidelines only a starting point

Ethical decision making

A series of dilemmas

Often no easy answer

Ultimately responsibility of researcher

An informed decision

Structure of the guidelinesA main principle

Statement expanding this principle

Issues/dilemmas

Broader discussion

Themes

Responsibilities to society

Professional expertise and standards

Responsibilities to research participants

Society

The research aims of any study should both benefit society and

minimise social harm

Society

Professional integrity must be balanced with national and

international law

Society

Research must be commissioned and conducted with respect for

and awareness of gender differences

Society

Research must be commissioned and conducted with respect for

groups regardless of race, ethnicity, religion and culture

Society

Research must be commissioned and conducted with respect for

under-represented social groups and the avoidance of

marginalisation or exclusion of these

Society

Researchers should address the concerns of relevant stakeholders

and user groups

Professional standards

An appropriate research method should be selected on the basis

of informed professional expertise

Professional standards

Ensuring the research team has the necessary professional

expertise and support

Professional standards

Conducting research should not involve any unwarranted material gain either to respondents or to

researchers

Professional standards

Research projects should be designed, conducted and

reported in an unbiased manner

Professional standards

Researchers and commissioners should reflect on the

consequences of research engagement for all participants

Professional standards

Reporting and dissemination should be carried out in a

responsible manner

Professional standards

Methodology and findings should be submitted to peer review

Professional standards

Any debts to previous research as a source of knowledge, data,

concepts and methodology should be fully acknowledged in

all outputs

Respondents

Participation in research should be voluntary

Respondents

Decisions about participation should be made from an

informed position

Respondents

All data should be treated with appropriate confidentiality and

anonymity

Respondents

Research participants should be protected from undue intrusion,

harm or distress