AN INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH ETHICS IN SOCIAL SCIENCES WITH EMPHASIZE ON EDUCTIONAL RESEARCH

Research ethics govern the standards of conduct for scientific researchers It is the guideline for responsibly conducting the research.

1. AN INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH ETHICS IN SOCIAL SCIENCES WITH EMPHASIZE ON EDUCTIONAL RESEARCH Sarath Chandran R. Research scholar Department of education, University of Kerala [email protected]

2. Introduction The social sciences comprise several disciplines, such as anthropology, economics, sociology, education, psychology, demography, statistics etc. The use of the findings of social science research could have useful for the autonomy, well-being and privacy of the individual as well as communities and the society.

3. Ethics in Social Science Research In social science research the research ethics classified into two groups. They are , Research-Participant Ethics (b) General Ethics

4. (a) Research-Participant Ethics informed consent’ - This is one of the major ethical issues in conducting research which implies the fact that “a person knowingly, voluntarily, intelligently, and in a clear and manifest way, gives his or her consent” ( Arminger , 1997, p.330 ). The privacy, anonymity and confidentiality of the participants and data must be given due consideration (Jensen, 2002). convenient and easily understandable, the questionnaire ( designed in the native language ) protect and promote the rights and interests of the participants. The researcher must take care of their own safety.

5. M ust take care of cultural, religious, economic, psychological, spiritual, physiological, biological, political, social and other issues of the participants. Researchers are expected to consider ethical implications of their research. To uphold the ethical standards in the research process, the researcher must accept and respect the principles of integrity, honesty, objectivity and openness.

6. b) General Ethics Plagiarism : This is the practice where an author or researcher has to ensure that any work which is written should be original and be devoid of some texts, results or even expressions which are borrowed, manipulated or used such as ideas, processes, results or even words of the author or publication without acknowledging where the information has been obtained from ( Mugenda , 2003; Kour,2014 ). Advocacy and safety: It is the responsibility of the researcher to design a project which will not infringe on the rights and safety of the interviewees or respondents.

7. Anonymity, confidentiality and privacy: Anonymity refers to keeping secret by not identifying the ethnic or cultural background of respondents, refrain from referring to them by their names or divulging any other sensitive information about a participant ( Mugenda , 2003 ). Beneficence: The concept of beneficence means, “doing good” (Churchill, 1995). The major purpose of maintaining ethics in research is to serve and promote the welfare of people and avoid bias or deception.

8. Deception: When conducting research, participants should be told the truth. But, if they are told only part of it or if the truth is completely denied or compromised this could lead to deception. Such a situation occurs if the researcher is biased when conducting a survey or conducts a research just to protect the sponsor of the research project (Blumberg, et al 2005). Non-maleficence : The non- maleficence expresses the potential risks of participation. It emphasizes on what constitutes harm which could be physiological, emotional, social or even economic in nature (Burns & Grove, 2005). The concept of non-maleficence aims that avoiding harm during research activity.

9. Vulnerable groups/ special populations :While conducting research, it is possible to involve populations which are disadvantaged or vulnerable such as children, poor or sick people. If this is done, then the researcher must obtain due consent from their parents or guardians so as to involve them in the investigations ( Mugenda , 2003 ). Academic freedom: Academicians are expected to be open minded and share their information and ideas freely without fear or intimidation yet observing the need to protect intellectual property ( Mugenda , 2003).

10. Fabrication and Falsification or fraud : Fabrication involves creating, inventing or faking data or results which are then recorded or reported while, falsification or fraud is the manipulation of materials, equipment, processes, by changing results or omitting some data or findings so that the research does not seem to have been well represented or recorded ( Mugenda , 2003; Kour , 2014).

11. Ethics in educational research 1. Conducted in unprofessional manner for personal gains without giving any consideration to society. 2. Commercial gain has become the motive of a few. 3. Duplication, forgery, plagiarism have become so common and are not treated unethical. 4. Nobody bothers about dissemination of results. Even if results are disseminated, society does not rely on. 5. Carried out by incompetent researchers in most insincere manner

12. The four important areas, where the educational researcher has responsibility are: a) Responsibility towards the Participants: right to maintain privacy guaranteed anonymity ,maintain confidentially and avoiding harm betrayal or deception following considerations should be kept in mind.

13. b) Responsibility towards the Sponsors/administrators/teachers/or beneficiaries: Research is expected to provide recipes for the solutions of classroom problems. Policy making Helpful in planning and execution of reforms; so that quality of schools and colleges may improve. The responsibility of the researcher to make the society aware of the results in order to provide impetus to the process of change.

14. (c) Responsibility towards the area of knowledge : R esearcher has a responsibility towards the area of study, in which he or she is going to conduct research . The researcher should assess the appropriateness of the selected area, A ware of works already done in the area and expenditure (time, money and resources) related to study.

15. (d) Responsibility towards the Research fellow researchers: responsible to the research community or colleagues(teachers , administrators, school managers and others working in this area) For Example, Special care should be taken mentioning acknowledgement.

16. Conclusion We can conclude that the research ethics under the five principles such as Tap into ethics resources, Respect confidentiality and privacy, Follow informed-consent rules, Be conscious of multiple roles, Discuss intellectual property frankly.