There are three main ethical concerns related to research (Ownership, Transparency, & Privacy), protecting data and how to use it without causing harm to anyone. Also, the transparency of obtaining and documenting information, and finally, the privacy of the data of the individuals themselves and preserving them from leakage
This paper will show how I will deal with these concerns.
Ownership
In this context, it is known that personal information is the property of its owner, and it is illegal or ethical to obtain it without the express consent of its owner. In my research, I will deal with the population surrounding construction sites.; therefore, approval must be obtained before asking questions or questionnaires to get their data and answers. Another matter is the impersonation and theft of other people's questionnaires to reach results in the research without obtaining the researcher's consent (Aguinis & Henle, 2004).
Transparency
This framework aims to make transparency the main factor between the researcher and the one on whom the research will be conducted so that there is no future danger to him/her. In my research, I must explain to these residents what this research is, where it will be conducted, the possible effects, and whether a danger threatens them after giving these answers. Also, they must be provided with the contact information and the accreditation number of the institution the research is affiliated (Halej, 2017).
Privacy
The data storage process must have a central database to maintain it. If the data is stored on computers, it must be protected as if it were highly confidential (Goodwill, 2015). For example, I can disguise the data by giving the participants numbers, not writing their names, or even using pseudonyms.
Ethical Consequences
Several damages can occur when conducting the survey and taking the sample. The first of these damages is psychological damage when asking sensitive questions that provoke shame, anxiety, or fear. There is also the social harm that includes stigmatization of the people involved due to sharing confidential information that affects their reputation or their families. There is legal harm, which is the sharing of information that may lead to legal issues for the participants in the research after it is conducted. Finally, the physical damage that results in physical pain in medical study or exposure to direct injuries (Rüdiger & Dayter, 2017)
Conclusion
The researcher's ethical misconduct is the commission of deliberate mistakes that harm the participants who have trusted him/her. Misconduct also includes falsifying and manipulating data; these things can lead to great dangers for the participants or the researchers themselves. Therefore, scientific research, sampling, and surveys must have a Code of Conduct.
References
Aguinis, H., & Henle, C. A. (2004). Ethics in research. Handbook of research methods in industrial and organizational psychology, 34-56.
Godwill, E. A. (2015). Fundamentals of Research Methodology: A Holistic Guide for Research Completion, Management, Validation and Ethics. New York: Nova Science Publishers, Inc. Retrieved from EBSCO eBook Collection (Read only Ch 9. Pp. 173-186).
Halej J. (2017). Ethics in primary research (focus groups, interviews and surveys). Retrieved from: https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/cross_fac/ias/schemes/wirl/info/ecu_research_ethics.pdf
Rüdiger, S., & Dayter, D. (2017). The ethics of researching unlikeable subjects. Applied Linguistics Review, 8(2-3), 251-269.