Researchers are normally expected to adopt risk minimization strategies. Basic ethical principles stress the need to do well and to do no harm because just one research study may cause a range of harm.
2. We might all expect that all researchers would be very careful to protect participants from at least physical harm caused by their research programmes.(the principle of non-maleficence)
15. Another way of responding to the possibility of harming participants, is by incorporating in the planning and running of the research members of those communities who form the focus of the work.
17. Researchshould also be designed in order to maximize its utility and relevance for the benefit of the society.
18. Ensurethat research participants are protectedfrom undue intrusion, distress, indignity, physical discomfort, personal embarrassment or psychological or other harm.
21. Research studies, particularly psychology studies, can put participants in situations that may make them feel uncomfortable in order to learn about their reaction to a situation.
22. It is important that you develop an appropriate consent process which involves not only informing the participant at the beginning of the study but continuing to monitor their progress, allowing for withdrawal at any point, and an informative debriefing period after the study.
24. While this risk tends to be less frequent with a social and behavioral science study, there are studies where considering a physical risk is still relevant.
25. For some studies it may be necessary to exclude participants whose health conditions increase the likelihood of injury.
27. Unlike doctors and lawyers, researchers cannot protect their participants’ confidences in a court of law.
28. If you are likely to gather information about an individual's illegal behavior (an ethnographic study of teens that are using illegal drugs) you should take care of their Confidentiality.
30. When you are studying an individual, it is important to consider their social situation and how they function in it.
31. It is important that you keep that individual’s participation confidential and private, even to the level that your meeting together is done privately.