1|Page
PUB2618 Assignment 2 Semester 2026 – Due 14 September 2026
VERIFIED AND CERTIFIED ANSWERS. WRITTEN IN REQUIRED FORMAT AND WITHIN
GIVEN GUIDELINES. IT IS GOOD TO USE AS A GUIDE AND FOR REFERENCE, NEVER
PLAGARIZE. Thank you and success in your academics.
UNISA, 2026
Contents
Applying the Principle of Non-Maleficence in Ethical Public Administration Research....... 2
1. Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 2
2. Ethical Research in Public Administration .........................................................................3
3. Meaning and Philosophical Foundation of Non-Maleficence ...........................................3
4. Applying Non-Maleficence Throughout the Research Process .......................................5
4.1 Ethical Planning and Risk Assessment .........................................................................5
4.2 Informed and Voluntary Participation ............................................................................5
4.3 Protecting Privacy and Confidentiality ..........................................................................6
4.4 Preventing Psychological and Emotional Harm ...........................................................6
4.5 Preventing Social, Economic and Political Harm .........................................................7
4.6 Protecting Communities from Collective Harm ............................................................7
5. Application Within the South African Public Administration Context ............................8
6. Practical Application: Research on Municipal Water-Service Delivery...........................9
7. Critical Analysis of Non-Maleficence................................................................................. 10
8. Conclusion ............................................................................................................................ 10
References .................................................................................................................................... 12
, 2|Page
Applying the Principle of Non-Maleficence in Ethical Public Administration
Research
1. Introduction
Research in Public Administration plays an important role in understanding citizens’
experiences of government programmes and public services and can provide evidence
for improving service delivery. However, research involving communities places an
ethical responsibility on the researcher to ensure that the process of generating
knowledge does not expose participants to unnecessary harm. This is particularly
important where citizens are asked to discuss sensitive experiences such as inadequate
service delivery, administrative failures, corruption, discrimination or dissatisfaction with
government institutions. Wessels and Visagie (2017:156–176) demonstrate the
relevance of research ethics to Public Administration, noting that research within the
discipline frequently involves human participants and therefore raises questions
concerning participant protection and ethical review.
Non-maleficence is an important ethical principle in this context because it requires
researchers to avoid causing harm to those who participate in research. The principle
extends beyond preventing physical harm to include psychological, social, economic,
reputational and privacy-related harm. In a public-sector research setting, the
researcher must therefore consider the possible consequences of collecting, storing,
analysing and reporting information obtained from citizens. This responsibility is
consistent with the South African public-service philosophy of Batho Pele, which places
people at the centre of service delivery and emphasises consultation, courtesy, access,
information, openness, redress and accountability (Department of Public Service and
Administration, 1997:3, 8–9).
The application of non-maleficence therefore requires more than simply avoiding
obvious physical injury. It requires the researcher to anticipate potential risks, protect
participants’ dignity and privacy, obtain meaningful consent, maintain confidentiality and
ensure that research findings are communicated responsibly. This essay discusses how
PUB2618 Assignment 2 Semester 2026 – Due 14 September 2026
VERIFIED AND CERTIFIED ANSWERS. WRITTEN IN REQUIRED FORMAT AND WITHIN
GIVEN GUIDELINES. IT IS GOOD TO USE AS A GUIDE AND FOR REFERENCE, NEVER
PLAGARIZE. Thank you and success in your academics.
UNISA, 2026
Contents
Applying the Principle of Non-Maleficence in Ethical Public Administration Research....... 2
1. Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 2
2. Ethical Research in Public Administration .........................................................................3
3. Meaning and Philosophical Foundation of Non-Maleficence ...........................................3
4. Applying Non-Maleficence Throughout the Research Process .......................................5
4.1 Ethical Planning and Risk Assessment .........................................................................5
4.2 Informed and Voluntary Participation ............................................................................5
4.3 Protecting Privacy and Confidentiality ..........................................................................6
4.4 Preventing Psychological and Emotional Harm ...........................................................6
4.5 Preventing Social, Economic and Political Harm .........................................................7
4.6 Protecting Communities from Collective Harm ............................................................7
5. Application Within the South African Public Administration Context ............................8
6. Practical Application: Research on Municipal Water-Service Delivery...........................9
7. Critical Analysis of Non-Maleficence................................................................................. 10
8. Conclusion ............................................................................................................................ 10
References .................................................................................................................................... 12
, 2|Page
Applying the Principle of Non-Maleficence in Ethical Public Administration
Research
1. Introduction
Research in Public Administration plays an important role in understanding citizens’
experiences of government programmes and public services and can provide evidence
for improving service delivery. However, research involving communities places an
ethical responsibility on the researcher to ensure that the process of generating
knowledge does not expose participants to unnecessary harm. This is particularly
important where citizens are asked to discuss sensitive experiences such as inadequate
service delivery, administrative failures, corruption, discrimination or dissatisfaction with
government institutions. Wessels and Visagie (2017:156–176) demonstrate the
relevance of research ethics to Public Administration, noting that research within the
discipline frequently involves human participants and therefore raises questions
concerning participant protection and ethical review.
Non-maleficence is an important ethical principle in this context because it requires
researchers to avoid causing harm to those who participate in research. The principle
extends beyond preventing physical harm to include psychological, social, economic,
reputational and privacy-related harm. In a public-sector research setting, the
researcher must therefore consider the possible consequences of collecting, storing,
analysing and reporting information obtained from citizens. This responsibility is
consistent with the South African public-service philosophy of Batho Pele, which places
people at the centre of service delivery and emphasises consultation, courtesy, access,
information, openness, redress and accountability (Department of Public Service and
Administration, 1997:3, 8–9).
The application of non-maleficence therefore requires more than simply avoiding
obvious physical injury. It requires the researcher to anticipate potential risks, protect
participants’ dignity and privacy, obtain meaningful consent, maintain confidentiality and
ensure that research findings are communicated responsibly. This essay discusses how
