HMPYC 80:
Research
Methodology
Chapter 07 –
Ethical Conduct in
Research with Human
HMPYC 8
Participants
, ➢ 1. Introduction:
• In 1964 the world Medical Association (WMA) formulated the declaration of Helsinki which outlines ethical
doing research on human participants, including human material and data.
- After several revisions, the current version of the declaration can be described as a modern, state of the art
guideline that has had a significant impact on the manner in which research is conducted worldwide.
• Ethical research practices in the Human Services professions, such as psychology and social work, or support
practice codes that endorse the principle of protection of and good practice towards clients.
• Most ethical dilemmas in research arise because of two states of obligations that are in opposition at times –
of the researcher to develop scientific knowledge and the protection of the rights and welfare of human par
- These two obligations should effectively coincide to reduce ethical risk for both parties.
• Ethical dilemmas in social science research or, however, not always obvious and researchers often plunge int
without considering possible ethical issues that may already be apparent to others.
- Ethical issues in social science research are pervasive and complex; Related to human interaction and behav
prone to be risky and unpredictable.
, ➢ 2. Concepts of Ethical Conduct:
• The concepts of ethics, values, morality, community standards, laws and professionalism differ from one ano
necessarily being mutually exclusive.
- The term ethics implies preferences that influence behavior in human relations, moral duty, conforming to
principles, the rules of conduct, the responsibility of the researcher and the standards of conduct of a given
• Ethics is a set of moral principles that is suggested by an individual or group, is subsequently widely accepted
rules and behavioral expectations about the most correct conduct towards experimental subjects and respon
employers, sponsors, other researchers, assistants and students.
• Ethical behavior and practice in research are guided by 6 ethical guidelines, principles and policies that shou
integrated into a researcher’s practice and behavioral framework and be used to evaluate their own conduct
• In South Africa, research involving human participants is governed by the National Health act 61 of 2003, wh
the Minister of Health to regulate all Human Services research, regardless of whether such research is of a h
general nature.
, ➢ 3. Ethical Principles:
• The following classification of ethical principles makes no claim to comprehensiveness but follows generic gu
ethical conduct by different international bodies.
• The following ethical principles are identified:
1. Non-maleficence.
2. Beneficence.
3. Voluntary participation.
4. Informed consent.
5. Transparency.
6. Privacy, anonymity and confidentiality.
7. Access to services.
8. Compensation.
9. Debriefing.
10. Actions and competence of the researcher.
11. Cooperation with contributors and sponsors.
12. Dissemination of findings.
13. Social and cultural sensitivity.
14. Conflict of interest.
Research
Methodology
Chapter 07 –
Ethical Conduct in
Research with Human
HMPYC 8
Participants
, ➢ 1. Introduction:
• In 1964 the world Medical Association (WMA) formulated the declaration of Helsinki which outlines ethical
doing research on human participants, including human material and data.
- After several revisions, the current version of the declaration can be described as a modern, state of the art
guideline that has had a significant impact on the manner in which research is conducted worldwide.
• Ethical research practices in the Human Services professions, such as psychology and social work, or support
practice codes that endorse the principle of protection of and good practice towards clients.
• Most ethical dilemmas in research arise because of two states of obligations that are in opposition at times –
of the researcher to develop scientific knowledge and the protection of the rights and welfare of human par
- These two obligations should effectively coincide to reduce ethical risk for both parties.
• Ethical dilemmas in social science research or, however, not always obvious and researchers often plunge int
without considering possible ethical issues that may already be apparent to others.
- Ethical issues in social science research are pervasive and complex; Related to human interaction and behav
prone to be risky and unpredictable.
, ➢ 2. Concepts of Ethical Conduct:
• The concepts of ethics, values, morality, community standards, laws and professionalism differ from one ano
necessarily being mutually exclusive.
- The term ethics implies preferences that influence behavior in human relations, moral duty, conforming to
principles, the rules of conduct, the responsibility of the researcher and the standards of conduct of a given
• Ethics is a set of moral principles that is suggested by an individual or group, is subsequently widely accepted
rules and behavioral expectations about the most correct conduct towards experimental subjects and respon
employers, sponsors, other researchers, assistants and students.
• Ethical behavior and practice in research are guided by 6 ethical guidelines, principles and policies that shou
integrated into a researcher’s practice and behavioral framework and be used to evaluate their own conduct
• In South Africa, research involving human participants is governed by the National Health act 61 of 2003, wh
the Minister of Health to regulate all Human Services research, regardless of whether such research is of a h
general nature.
, ➢ 3. Ethical Principles:
• The following classification of ethical principles makes no claim to comprehensiveness but follows generic gu
ethical conduct by different international bodies.
• The following ethical principles are identified:
1. Non-maleficence.
2. Beneficence.
3. Voluntary participation.
4. Informed consent.
5. Transparency.
6. Privacy, anonymity and confidentiality.
7. Access to services.
8. Compensation.
9. Debriefing.
10. Actions and competence of the researcher.
11. Cooperation with contributors and sponsors.
12. Dissemination of findings.
13. Social and cultural sensitivity.
14. Conflict of interest.
