Ethical considerations

Ethical considerations are essential in research to protect the rights, dignity, and well-being of participants. Ethics in research guide how researchers conduct their studies, interact with participants, and report findings. By adhering to ethical standards, researchers can build trust, ensure accuracy, and uphold the integrity of their work.

Research ethics is specifically interested in the analysis of ethical issues that arise in conducting research when human beings or animals are involved as participants in research.

• It avoids the researcher from committing mistakes in the process of conducting research.
• It promotes essential values that help researchers on a topic to have a common understanding of how things should go about.
• It binds together experts from different fields by considering the important values such as accountability, cooperation, mutual respect, and fairness among others.

Source: Code and Conduct of British Association of Sports and Exercise Science

1. Ethical clearance is obtained prior to data collection commencing. This is the process that requires researchers to give due considerations to what it is like to be a participant in the given study. Clearance is usually awarded by an ethics committee.
2. Informed Consent a signed declaration from someone agreeing to do something when they have been asked to do and the purposes of the study/ investigation.
3. Data Protection- the process of securing all information collected so that it is only seen by the people in which it was originally agreed to be seen by. This often involves in locking away of files or the use of on the electronic devices to ensure this.
4. Confidentiality and anonymity- ensuring that no one except the researcher(s) knows the participant identities and that their information is kept private unless permission is granted by the participant. Fake names (pseudonyms) are given to participants to protect their identity.
5. Eliminating or minimizing risks- the process of taking every measure possible to reduce or eradicate any potential harm that may come to participants in a study.
6. Voluntary participation- the process of not forcing anyone to take part in the research.
7. Debriefing- re explaining the purpose of the study and encouraging the participants to ask any questions that they may have also. The researcher will address any harm to the participants that arose during the study and remind participants of their anonymity and confidentiality.
8. Right to withdraw-as all participation in research should be voluntary, participants should never be forced to take part in something against their wishes. Participants wishing to cease data collection should be allowed to do so with no negative consequences. At this point, debriefing would also be conducted.
9. Deception- this is when participants are not informed of the full extent of the study and are lied about the true purpose of the research.

1. Be Honest. Honesty is important in reporting the results or findings of your investigation or research.
2. Be Objective. Report what have observed based on the facts or data that you have gathered and avoid bias.
3. Be a Person of Integrity. Act with sincerity and should be able to keep your words true.
4. Be Caring. You should be after of the welfare and benefits of the subjects especially when dealing with human or animals.
5. Be Open. Willing to accept opinions, ideas, comments and suggestions of others.
6. Be Careful. Treat your colleagues fairly and acknowledge the works of others.
7. Be Trustworthy. The data or information gathered from the research or investigation should be kept confidential unless there is a need to be divulged in public.
8. Be Responsible. In conducting studies, consider the rules and regulation of the different institutions. Be of help in publishing research that aims to advance knowledge and promote social welfare.