As researchers we are unable to conduct our projects successfully if we do not receive the help of other people. If we expect them to give up their valuable time to help us, it follows that we should offer them something in return. Many people are willing to disclose a lot of personal information during our research so we need to make sure that we treat both the participants and the information they provide with honesty and respect. This is called research ethics.

TREATING PARTICIPANTS WITH RESPECT

As a researcher you must remember that the research process intrudes on people’s lives. Some of the people who take part in your research may be vulnerable because of their age, social status or position of powerlessness. If participants are young, you need to make sure a parent or guardian is present. If participants are ill or reaching old age you might need to use a proxy and care should be taken to make sure that you do not affect the relationship between the proxy and the participant.

Some people may find participation a rewarding process, whereas others will not. Your research should not give rise to false hopes or cause unnecessary anxiety. You must try to minimise the disruption to people’s lives and if someone has found it an upsetting experience you should find out why and try to ensure that the same situation does not occur again.

As a researcher you will encounter awkward situations, but good preparation and self-awareness will help to reduce these. If they do happen, you should not dwell too long on the negative side – reflect, analyse, learn by your mistakes and move on.

You must do your best to ensure anonymity and confidentiality. However, information given by research participants in confidence does not enjoy legal privilege. This means that the information may be liable to subpoena by a court. If you’re dealing with very sensitive information which you know could be called upon by a court of law, you will need to inform your participants that you would be obliged to hand over the information.

OVERT AND COVERT RESEARCH

Overt research means that it is open, out in the public and that everyone knows who you are and what you are doing. Covert research means that you are doing it under cover, that no one knows you are a researcher or what you are doing. In my opinion covert research should be kept to a minimum – there are enough journalists and television personalities doing this kind of undercover, sensationalist work.

CODE OF ETHICS

Once you have been open and honest about what you are doing and people have agreed to take part in the research, it is useful to provide them with a Code of Ethics. The best time to do this is just before they take part in a focus group or interview, or just before they fill in your questionnaire. The Code of Ethics supplies them with details about what you intend to do with the information they give and it shows that you intend to treat both them and the information with respect and honesty. It covers the following issues:

1. Anonymity: you need to show that you are taking steps to ensure that what participants have said cannot be traced back to them when the final report is produced. How are you going to categorise and store the information? How are you going to make sure it is not easily accessible to anyone with unscrupulous intentions? Do you intend to change the names of people, towns and organisations? If not, how will you ensure that what someone says cannot be used against them in the future? However, you must be careful not to make promises that you cannot keep.

2. Confidentiality: you need to show that information supplied to you in confidence will not be disclosed directly to third parties. If the information is supplied in a group setting, issues of confidentiality should be relevant to the whole group who should also agree not to disclose information directly to third parties. You need to think about how you’re going to categorise and store the information so that it cannot fall into unscrupulous hands. Again, you need to make sure that you do not make promises which you can’t keep.

3. Right to comment: this will depend on your personal methodological preferences and beliefs. Some researchers believe that willing participants should be consulted throughout the research process and that if someone is unhappy with the emerging results and report, they have the right to comment and discuss alterations. Indeed, this can be seen as part of the research process itself. Other researchers believe that once the information has been supplied, it is up to them what they do with it. If you’re not willing to discuss the final report or take on board comments from unhappy participants, you must make this clear from the outset.

4. The final report: it is useful for participants to know what is going to happen with the results. Who will receive a free copy of the report? Will it be on public display? If the final report is very long you can produce a shorter, more succinct report which can be sent to interested participants. This will keep down your own production and postage costs.

5. Data Protection: you need to show that you understand the Data Protection Act and that you intend to comply with its rules. The Data Protection Act 1998 came into force on 1 March 2000. It sets rules for processing personal information and applies to paper records as well as those held on computers. It covers issues such as acting fairly and lawfully; not keeping the information longer than necessary; making sure that the data is accurate and kept secure. Personal data covers both facts and opinions about an individual. More details about the Data Protection Act can be found at www.dataprotection.gov.uk. A copy of the Data Protection Act 1998 can be obtained from The Stationery Office Limited at a price of £10, or from www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk The amount of detail you provide in your Code of Ethics will depend on your research, your participants and your methodological preferences. Some people will not want to see a lengthy list of ethical considerations, whereas others will go through your list with a fine tooth-comb. It is for this reason that you might find it useful to produce two – a short summary and a longer version for those who are interested. The British Sociological Association has produced a Statement of Ethical Practice which can be viewed at www.britsoc.org.uk. This statement covers issues such as professional integrity; relations with, and responsibilities towards research participants; relations with, and responsibilities towards sponsors and/or funders. It is a very detailed list and will help you to think about all the ethical issues which may arise during your research.