Research Ethics: A Student Guide
This note is adapted from Chapter 4 of Research Methods: The Basics by Walliman (2011).
Why it matters
Research has value only when carried out with honesty. Taking shortcuts or copying others’ work not only undermines your credibility but can also put your academic future at serious risk.
Two key areas of ethics
- Research integrity – being honest in collecting, analysing, and reporting data.
- Treatment of participants – showing respect, gaining consent, and protecting privacy.
Core Principles
- Honesty: Report what you actually did and found.
- Citations: Always reference sources; plagiarism is a serious offence.
- Acknowledgement: Credit anyone who helped or contributed.
- Consent: Participants must freely agree to take part, with clear information given.
- Confidentiality: Keep data private and secure.
- Transparency: Disclose funding, methods, and any potential bias.
- Responsibility: Avoid harm and aim to provide benefit through your research.
Good Practice
- Apply for ethics approval if your work involves people.
- Store and share data securely.
- Dispose of data properly (e.g. shredding papers, deleting files).
- Be clear about your theoretical framework and methods.
- Never exaggerate or ignore results that do not fit your expectations.
Ethical research is built on honesty, respect, and responsibility. Be sure you understand these principles fully before beginning your study.