Ethical Guidelines for Research

Good ethical practices in research are vital to:

1. Obligations to Society and the Church: If ministry research is to benefit to society and the Church, then field researchers must conduct their work responsibly. Field Researchers have a responsibility to manage strategic information with a high level of intellectual integrity and maintain high scientific standards in the methods employed to collect information, analyze data and communicate results. Also local legislation pertaining to the gathering and dissemination of information must be respected.
2. Obligations to Project Sponsors and Clients: Researchers’ relationship with and commitments to project sponsors and clients should be transparent and balanced. These should not compromise the impartial gathering of information, analysis and reporting of results. Protocols established with clients and sponsors must be maintained.
3. Obligations to Co-Workers: A researcher must be concerned for the safety and security of co-workers when conducting field research. Researchers should encourage the peer review of their methods, procedures and findings without compromising commitments to clients or subjects.
4. Obligations to Subjects: Field researchers must strive to protect subjects from undue harm arising as a consequence of their participation in research projects. The subjects’ participation should be voluntary and as fully informed as possible. Predetermined security considerations regarding subjects and data must be maintained.

Adapted from the Social Research Association Ethical Guidelines accessed 9/24/2013 at the-sra.org.uk/sra_resources/research-ethics/ethics-guidelines

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