Ethical concerns in survey design are essential to protect the participants' rights and ensure the research's validity (Gupta, 2017). Some of the key ethical concerns include: (Informed consent- Privacy and confidentiality- Protection from harm- Voluntary participation- Avoidance of deception).
Ethical Considerations:
Culture and language: The construction industry in NYC is diverse, and it's essential to be sensitive to the cultural and linguistic needs of my participants. If I conduct interviews or focus groups, I must ensure interpreters are available. I should also be aware of the cultural norms around giving and receiving gifts and avoid any actions perceived as bribery (Trochim, 2020).
Dual relationships: If I research my community, I must know the potential for dual relationships. For example, I may know some of my participants personally or work for a company involved in the construction industry. I must disclose any potential conflicts of interest to my participants and avoid putting them in a position where they feel they must participate in my research.
Permissions: I will need permission from the appropriate authorities before I can research construction pollution in NYC. This may include the city government, the Department of Environmental Protection, and the construction companies I am studying. I should also obtain the consent of my participants before I collect any data from them (Oldendick, 2012).
Organizational challenges: The construction industry is a complex and hierarchical environment, and gaining access to participants and data can be challenging. I must be persistent and build relationships with industry people to succeed, or instead, I will use powerful tools such as (Survey Monkey).
Ethical strategies:
- Be transparent with my participants about the purpose of my research and how their data will be used (Sojka & Spangenberg, 1994).
- Respect the privacy of my participants and do not share their personal information without their consent.
- Use an interpreter to ensure my participants understand the research process and their rights.
- Avoid any actions that could be perceived as bribery or coercion.
- Obtain the appropriate permissions before I collect any data.
- Be respectful of the organizational culture of the construction industry.
Fundamental Components of the Research:
Until now, I didn't go deep into this matter because I postponed the next semester, but here I will discuss the main points in general:
- Title of the research project: This should be a clear and concise statement of the research question or problem I am addressing.
- Background: This should provide a brief overview of the research topic, including the relevant literature and the current state of knowledge.
- Research questions or hypotheses: This should clearly state the specific questions I am trying to answer or the hypotheses I am testing.
- Research methods: This should describe the methods I will use to collect and analyze my data.
- Literature review: This should provide a more detailed overview of the relevant literature, including the theoretical framework I will use to interpret my findings.
- Timeline and budget: This should estimate the time and resources needed to complete my research.
- Expected outcomes: This should briefly describe the expected outcomes of my research, including the implications for theory and practice.
Conclusion
Ethical concerns in survey design encompass various considerations that revolve around integrity, respect for participants, and the responsible use of data. By following ethical guidelines, I can ensure that my research on construction pollution in NYC is conducted ethically and responsibly.
References
Gupta, S. (2017). Ethical Issues in Designing Internet-Based Research: Recommendations for Good Practice. Journal of
Research Practice. 13(2). 1-14. Retrieved from EBSCO multi-search.
Oldendick, R. W. (2012). Survey research ethics. Handbook of survey methodology for the social sciences, 23-35.
Sojka, J., & Spangenberg, E. R. (1994). Ethical concerns in marketing research. ACR North American Advances.
Trochim, W. (2020). Ethics in Research. Retrieved from https://conjointly.com/kb/ethics-in-research/