Ethical Issues in Research Methods

Abstract

This chapter explores only some of the ethical issues related to methodology – issues that have to be borne in mind when selecting the most appropriate research method or methods through which to conduct a study. Some methods are more ethically appropriate to some study topics and target populations rather than others. While reviewers of research proposals often seek to separate method from ethics, the distinction is far from clear. There is, though, a relatively clear distinction between what is likely to be most effective in producing answers to research questions and what is ethical. Some methods distance the researcher too far from their participant study population, others require far too close an engagement. There is no one “best” method for all study populations and all research settings. The choice of method, like the perception of ethical risks, is highly context-dependent. Researchers, reviewers, funders, and subjects should all be in a position to make a judgment call about which method is most appropriate to their needs and risks in the specific research setting.