UNIT 2

ETHICS AND BUSINESS RESEARCH

DR.THULASI KRISHNA. K, PH.D.

DEPARTMENT OF MANAGEMENT STUDIES

MITS – MADANAPALLE, A.P.

INTRODUCTION

• Ethics in business research refers to a code

of conduct or expected societal norm of

behaviour while conducting research.

• Ethical conduct applies to the organization

and the members that sponsor the research,

the researchers who undertake the research,

and the respondents who provide them with

the necessary data.

• Ethics in Research Research Sponsor --Researcher--Respondents

ETHICS IN RESEARCH

• Ethical Issues of Research

Sponsorship

• Ethical Issues of Researchers

• Ethical Issues relating to the

Respondents/subjects

ETHICAL ISSUES OF RESEARCH SPONSORSHIP

Sometimes researchers will be asked by sponsors to participate in

unethical behavior. To avoid coercion by sponsor the researcher should:

• Educate sponsor to the purpose of research

• Explain researcher’s role

• Explain how distortion (misrepresentation) of the truth leads to future

problems

ETHICAL ISSUES OF RESEARCHERS

Researchers need to be aware of having the responsibility to secure the actual

permission and interests of all those involved in the study.

They should not misuse any of the information discovered, and there should be a

certain moral responsibility maintained towards the participants.

There is a duty to protect the rights of people in the study as well as their privacy

and sensitivity.

ETHICAL ISSUES RELATING TO THE RESPONDENTS/SUBJECTS

The major categories of ethical issues relating to the research subjects are:

• Sometimes, people are made to participate in a research project without their

knowledge of consent.

• the consent of the respondents is obtained without informing them of the

purpose of the research.

• the researcher may find it necessary to give incorrect information about

the proposed research to potential subjects to manipulate their

perceptions and behaviour.

• In studies relating to human values, the social scientists may create

opportunities for research subjects to lie, steal or cheat.

• Another questionable/non-ethical practice is to expose participants to physical or mental

stress with a view to studying their reactions.

• Some researchers may dig out information from respondents on private or personal

matters such as marital life or religious faith etc., by employing techniques of participant

observation, in depth interviews which amount to invasion of privacy.

• Finally, there is the ethical issue relating to the obligation of maintaining the anonymity of

the research respondents and keeping research data in confidence.

• Thank You