SIS Week 5 preparation
Adapted from material by Dr. Kara A. Makara, School of Education, University of Glasgow.
Ethical principles from the ESRC Framework For Research Ethics (FRE) revised Jan 2015. The University abides by the research council (e.g., ESRC) recommendations
The participant should decide
on their own that they want to
participate in the study.
2. Risk
The benefits of the study
should be greater than the
risks
You must try to avoid any risks to both the
participant and yourself. Risk comes in many forms,
including physical injury, the feeling that one is being
seen as inferior (not as good as other people),
embarrassment or fear; taking part in a badly
designed study; giving out (“disclosing”) personal
information and data being made public, and many
more.
There are also risks to the
researcher – think about your
safety, eg where will you meet
people to interview them that is
safe?
3. Informed consent
The participant should clearly
understand what the study is
about and what their
participation will involve. For
example, what will they do?
When? Why? How will the
information they give be used?
If they know about and understand
these things, they are informed.
They should give their consent (agreement) to participate
before the study begins.
How? Plain language statement (information sheet) & consent form
4. Confidentiality
You must keep individual responses private and store data securely.
Do not share results with others until the identity of
participants has been taken out so they cannot be
identified.
In a survey, use averages from the whole sample, and
when you show data from interviews, give the
interviewee a pseudonym (don’t use the interviewee’s
real name) to avoid showing their identity.
5. Standards of integrity
Shared values in scientific research include:
Honesty - show information truthfully
• Accuracy - report findings precisely and take care to avoid errors
• Efficiency -use resources wisely and avoid waste (including money and time of all participants)
• Objectivity - let the facts speak for themselves