There is a certain code of data collection ethical issues that guides all professions which has evolved over so many years accommodating the change in needs, ethos, values and expectations of those who keep stake in the professions. There also exists an overall code of conduct governing the way research is carried out. In fact, many research related organisations have evolved their separate code of ethics for research. All organisations existing today have been serving society in a certain way going through dynamic changes due to competitions.
The researchers, sponsoring organisations, participants are the key participants when ethical issues in research are to be looked at.
In regard to participants, important data collection ethical issues are:
- Information gathering
- Consent to be looked for
- Incentives to be provided
- Sensitive information to be collected
- Any probability of giving harm to participants
- To maintain confidentiality
With regard to researcher:
- Bias introduction
- Individuals provided and deprived of treatment
- Research methodology that is unacceptable
- False reporting
- Wrong use of information
With regard to sponsoring organisation:
- Make all the participants aware of any potential harms prior to their participation.
- Try to be unbiased and be nuetral. Don’t let your personal thinking opinions interfere with the data collection process.
- Try to avoid the thinking of taking advantage of easy to access groups simply because they are there. Data should be collected from those that most help us answer our questions.
- Respect the time spent by others and if possible, compensate them for it.