The topic of ethics arises in various aspects of human interaction, including business research. Defining ethics is a philosophical inquiry which lacks consensus among philosophers. However, people’s rights and obligations are typically influenced by the societal norms – sets of behavioral codes followed by a group, which indicate what actions individuals should take in specific situations.
Conflicting perspectives on behavioural expectations can lead to ethical dilemmas. Various professional associations have established codes of ethics for researchers to follow. A code of ethics outlines principles and procedures for ethical practice. In business research, there are three key parties involved: the researcher, the sponsoring client, and the respondent. Each party has specific rights and obligations. The researcher’s rights and obligations are as follows:
The researcher is expected to adhere to the purpose of the research, maintain objectivity, avoid misrepresentation of research findings, protect the rights to confidentiality of subjects and clients, and avoid bias in research conclusions. Additionally, the researcher should not spread inaccurate conclusions or appropriate ideas from competing research providers. As the purpose of research is solely scientific investigation, research firms should not engage in any other practices. Researchers should uphold high standards to guarantee the accuracy of collected data.
Researchers must maintain objectivity and avoid attempting to prove a specific point for political reasons. It is essential for researchers to analyze data honestly and accurately report the collection methods to both the client and subjects. Therefore, researchers should not misrepresent the statistical accuracy of their data or exaggerate the significance of the results by manipulating the findings. Concealing errors or deviating from the proper procedures can distort or bias the results.
The researcher has a responsibility to maintain the confidentiality and anonymity of subjects and clients, as well as ensuring the privacy of respondents. Clients have the right to expect accurate and objective data from the researcher, as well as to have their instructions regarding confidentiality followed. Disseminating faulty conclusions is considered unethical and improper behavior.
Often, researchers or decision makers disseminate conclusions that do not align with the data obtained, which goes against the responsibility of reporting accurate findings. It is unethical for a research supplier to incorporate ideas from a competing supplier’s proposal into their own study, even if requested by the client. The sponsoring client has the obligation to promote objective truth-seeking and encourage efforts to reduce bias. They must provide a comprehensive statement of the problem, along with constraints such as time and money, as well as any other information that can assist the supplier in anticipating costs and challenges. It is crucial to practice ethics in the buyer-seller relationship, just as in general business situations involving purchasing agents and sales representatives happening in the field of business research.
The research sponsor should pay attention to public opinion, as it is important to maintain privacy rights for research subjects. It is also necessary to maintain an open relationship with stakeholders. The client should have a strong commitment to the research project before seeking proposals. Advocacy research should be conducted with objectivity, but ethical considerations arise due to the conflict between legal and research ethics.
