The Ethical Considerations of Social Science Research

Order No 00093519
The Ethical Considerations of Social Science Research
Abstract
This work appraised the ethical considerations that should be taken into account when conducting research and referred to a recent survey conducted by World Economic Forum. The researcher gathered information from the existing literature regarding how to conduct interviews in a manner that did not cause any harm to the participants. The major point was to ensure that potential participants were informed of the purpose of the research, assured that their comments would remain confidential, and given the opportunity to withdraw from the research at any time.
Introduction
This essay considers the ethical considerations that should be taken into account when conducting research and refers to a recent survey conducted by World Economic Forum (Zimmer & Pearson, 2019), which had the purpose of identifying the barriers that were continuing to inhibit the work of social entrepreneurs. This research was personally important because it is this researcher’s specialist field. Social entrepreneurship is particularly significant because it involves accomplishing something valuable for society, for instance resolving a social issue or challenge, with simultaneously being profitable (Gandhi & Raina, 2018). The participants were 56 social sector practitioners, mostly founders of for profit and not for profit organizations and fellows of the Schwab Foundation (Zimmer & Pearson, 2019).
Ethical Considerations
The ethical matters that must be completed before any survey can take place relate to informed consent, an evaluation of the risks and benefits and careful selection of subjects, as set out in the Belmont Report (Department of Health, Education and Welfare, 1979). The researcher must treat each individual with respect, and s/he should agree to take part in the research voluntarily, after sufficient information has been provided by the researcher and provision made that s/he will not experience any harm from participating in the study. In addition, the potential participant must be informed that s/he can withdraw from the research at any time. The selection of participants must be based on the principles of justice, that each person is chosen for his/her expert knowledge rather than being readily available, for instance (Vermeylena & Clark, 2017).
Therefore, the participants for the survey should have been provided with a written statement that explained the purpose of the research, how the findings would be utilized and by whom, given a guarantee that any comments made would remain confidential, so that an individual could not be associated with any comment made in the report. In addition, the participants should be informed of their rights to privacy and details of how their data will be kept secure. They could also be offered a dr...