Research Methods and Applications for Student Affairs

Chapter FourConsidering Ethics

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this chapter, you should be able to:

• Know a brief history of research ethics.
• Distinguish the three basic ethical principles.
• Recognize minimal risk and the need for informed consent.
• Acknowledge the role of ethics in student affairs research.

Researchers have an obligation to ensure the safety and privacy of study participants. Research ethics are concerned with the responsible treatment of individuals and their data. Ethics encompass the responsibilities researchers have to participants and their data before, during, and after a study. An ethically aware researcher considers how the study may affect others—either during participation or afterward when results are published. ...