Research ethics relates to the moral principles undergirding the design and execution of research projects that involve observing and recording other people's lives.
In other words, it deals with the technicalities of ethics related to research, such as informed consent, power relations, and confidentiality. It may also deal with issues like conflict of interest in relation to the sponsorship of research projects and the researcher's safety. When deciding on research methods, we may reflect on moral issues such as the following:
How do we ensure the confidentiality of our respondents?
How can unequal power relations between the researcher and the researched be avoided?
It calls among researchers for more moral accountability in research; the researcher is urged to be responsible for and reflective of the moral dimensions of her/his actions.
Townsend, L. (Academic). (2017). Social media research & ethics [Video]. Sage Research Methods. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781526413642
Spencer, G. (Academic). (2015). Research ethics and working with children and young people [Video]. Sage Research Methods. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781473930070
Research Ethics for Students in the Social Sciences
A New Approach to Research Ethics
