Ethics in research is not a single checklist completed at the start of a project — it is an ongoing commitment that applies throughout the research process, from question selection to final reporting. Different research questions and methods raise different ethical issues, and you must identify and address those specific to your own investigation.
While initial ethical planning happens in your rationale and research plan, new ethical issues can arise:
- During data collection (e.g., a participant reveals distressing information)
- During analysis (e.g., you notice an individual can be identified from aggregated data)
- During reporting (e.g., findings might stigmatise a community)
Document how you respond to ethical issues in your Journal throughout the project.
KEY TAKEAWAY: Ethical research is not just about protecting participants — it also involves honest reporting, transparent acknowledgement of limitations, and responsible use of findings. Ethics extends to how you write and present your conclusions.
Different questions raise different ethical concerns:
| Research Area | Typical Ethical Issues |
|---|---|
| Health and wellbeing | Distress during data collection; stigma in findings; privacy of medical information |
| Social behaviour | Observation without full consent; privacy; generalisation that stereotypes groups |
| Online activity | Data collected without explicit consent; digital privacy |
| Education | Power dynamics (teacher/student); sensitive performance data |
| Historical/documentary | Privacy of living individuals mentioned in records |
| Environmental | Accuracy of claims affecting communities; advocacy vs objectivity |
EXAM TIP: When given a research scenario with an ethical problem, identify (1) which ethical principle is being violated, (2) what specific harm could result, and (3) what the researcher should have done instead. Three-part answers demonstrate depth.
Even if you gathered data ethically, the analysis and reporting phase can create new risks:
- Small populations: In a small school community, even “anonymous” data can identify individuals if specific demographic combinations are reported
- Sensitive findings: If your findings are negative (e.g., identifying a community as having high rates of a problem), consider how reporting them might harm members of that community
- Aggregation: Report data in aggregated form wherever possible; avoid presenting individual-level data
Once a participant has contributed to your research, you have obligations:
- Do not misrepresent their views in your report
- Do not use their contribution for purposes beyond what was consented to
- If you quote them, use only what they intended for public attribution (or use anonymised quotes)
- If they withdraw consent after contributing, remove their data
Ethics extends to how you present findings:
- Do not overstate: Claim only what your evidence supports
- Do not selectively report: Do not omit findings that contradict your hypothesis
- Acknowledge limitations: An honest account of what your research cannot tell us is more ethical and more scholarly than false certainty
- Avoid stigmatising language: Describe populations with respect, avoiding language that pathologises or demeans
COMMON MISTAKE: Treating ethics purely as a participant-protection issue and ignoring reporting ethics. A student who gathered data ethically but then selectively reported only favourable results has still acted unethically — in the academic sense of misrepresenting findings.
REMEMBER: Your Extended Investigation Journal should include reflections on ethical decisions made throughout the project — not just in the planning phase. This ongoing documentation demonstrates responsible research practice and is directly valued in assessment.
