When doing primary research for your dissertation, thesis or capstone project, your institution will advise you to be an ethical researcher. This involves protecting both the subjects in your study and the integrity of what you are investigating. Typically, in business, humanities and social sciences, your subjects are people and what is being examined is the human condition. Therefore, you will, more than likely, need to seek ethics approval. This blog discusses hazard-free ways of how to get ethics approval for your primary research study.
Your institution will doubtless have a code of ethics specifying the rules and standards of academic integrity, including what is (and what is not) acceptable ethical research practice and conduct. You may be required, for example, to request approval for your study from an internal committee, review board and/or external agency. This will probably necessitate submitting an ethics application and declaration form to a designated person (or authorisation panel).
When completing this form, recognise your goal is to demonstrate that those participating in your research will not be damaged by their connection with your study. As an ethical researcher, you are responsible for safeguarding the individuals taking part in your study, whilst also respectfully encouraging their full contribution. Your research advisor/mentor/supervisor will support you and help you fulfil your ethical obligations.
As one of our students, Asha Kumar, observed after finishing their MA Management: “It is important to think about the effect of your research on others. Especially how you design your study, and collect, analyse and interpret your quantitative and qualitative data. You should make sure nobody is adversely affected by any of the methodologies and methods you use.” Following Asha’s sage words, when filling in your ethics application and declaration form, you should place the rights of your participants front and centre.
You will want to, for instance, show how you will:
- Secure the freely given consent of participants to engage in your research.
- Explain the rationale, background and context of your study to the participants.
- Protect your participants from any harm that may ensue from their involvement with your research.
- Maintain the privacy of your participants by only exploring areas that are related to your study.
- Preserve the confidentiality of the data provided by your participants.
- Utilise the data supplied by your participants for the intended purpose only.
- Derive accurate, verifiable and trustworthy results and findings from the data you gathered from your participants.
After submitting your ethics application and declaration form, four outcomes are possible: accept with no revisions required; accept with minor revisions required; accept conditionally with major revisions required; and reject with a full rewrite required. Therefore, you may be directed to make amendments to your original submission before receiving final approval. When you obtain this authorisation, the signed off form will likely have to be included as an appendix to your thesis, dissertation or project. If this is the case, the form must be referred to, and explained, in the main body of your document (usually the methodology and methods chapter).
Integrating the approved ethics form into your written work is not a passive, singular activity. It signals to your examiners how your own moral compass operates. For example, at your viva voce, they may ask in what way was your research conduct and behaviour guided by ethical principles and practices. Such a question is attempting to find out how you insured against the consequences of what could happen if you did not embrace ethical principles and practices throughout your research journey. So, your ethics application and declaration form serves a dual function. It is an important link in the procedural chain for your once-off ethics approval. In addition, it acts as the fundamental keystone to prompt a process of ongoing ethical action. This demands of you ethical practice and conduct at all stages of your research journey.