Ethics in Research

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Ethics in Research
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This presentation

• Importance of ethics in research
• Code of Professional Behaviour
• Respondents rights
• Researchers professional responsibilities
• Researchers and clients mutual rights and
  responsibilities
• Ethics queries and problems
• Market and Social Research Privacy Principles
• Privacy queries and problems

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Importance of ethics in research

• Research depends upon the willing co-operation of
  the public and business community
• Based upon confidence that research is carried
  out honestly, objectively and in a manner that
  protects participants rights to privacy

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Code of Professional Behaviour

• Assists in defining the profession of research
• Distinguishes research from activities such as
  direct marketing
• Provides a common standard of practice for the
  research industry
• binding us together as a group of professionals

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Code of Professional Behaviour

• Applies to all AMSRS members (individuals)
• Who are required to apply it in their
  organisations
• Covers standards of practice for research along
  three key principles
• Respondents rights
• Researchers professional responsibilities
• Researchers and clients mutual rights and
  responsibilities

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Respondents rights

• Voluntary participation
• Confidentiality and anonymity
• Except where informed consent given
• No adverse effects
• Special care of children/young people
• Informed of recording/observation
• Assurance of bona fides

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Researchers professional responsibilities

• Researchers must
• Design cost efficient research
• Ensure security of research records
• Report research findings accurately
• Researchers must not
• Discredit the profession
• Make false claims about skills or experience
• Unjustifiably disparage other researchers
• Undertake non-research activities in their role
  as a researcher

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Researchers and clients mutual rights and
responsibilities

• Relationship normally governed by contract
• Researcher must
• Inform Client if work syndicated
• Inform Client if subcontractors used
• Avoid conflicts of interest
• Keep research records (e.g. questionnaires) for
  appropriate time
• and supply copies of records to Client on
  request (at the Clients expense)

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Researchers and clients mutual rights and
responsibilities

• Researcher must (cont.)
• Reveal Clients identity to participants (unless
  valid reason not to)
• but not reveal confidential information about
  Clients business (unless permitted)
• Allow Client to check research quality
• Provide Client with appropriate technical details
• Make distinction between findings and
  interpretation
• Ensure Client is aware of Code and need to comply

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Researchers and clients mutual rights and
responsibilities

• Researcher owns
• Proposals and cost quotations (unless paid for)
• Syndicated research data and findings
• Any research records for which they have not been
  paid
• Researcher has right to vet publication of
  results

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Researchers and clients mutual rights and
responsibilities

• Client must
• Ensure any published findings are not misleading
• Client has no right to
• Exclusive use of Researchers services (unless
  contracted)
• Know respondents identities without their
  consent (unless for sample management)
• Client owns
• Briefing documents
• Research records for which they have paid
• Research data and findings

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Ethics queries and problems

• Refer to the Code
• If unsure, ask for advice (Local Division)
• Report complaints or infringements to the
  Societys National Secretariat
• Complaints, if upheld, may lead to suspension,
  expulsion and/or publication in Research News

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Market and Social Research Privacy Principles

• Applies to AMSRO members (organisations)
• Other organisations bound by the National Privacy
  Principles
• Covers the collection, storage, use and transfer
  of identified information
• i.e. information that is linked to the
  individuals identity
• Consistent with the Code of Professional
  Behaviour, but contains additional safeguards

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Market and Social Research Privacy Principles

• General principles
• Research only
• Use and transfer identified information only for
  research purposes
• Transparency
• Inform participants of the purpose of the
  research
• Use and transfer identified information only for
  purposes that would be expected by participants
• unless there are valid reasons to do otherwise
  (e.g. purpose of the research exercise would be
  defeated)

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Privacy queries and problems

• Should be dealt with by the research organisation
• Have procedures in place
• Preferable for some staff to be specially trained
• If unsure
• Refer to privacy fact-sheets
• Ask for advice (AMSRO Secretariat)
• If not resolved within 30 business days, either
  party may refer the complaint to the adjudicator
  (the Privacy Commissioner)