1. When creating a research plan, researchers need to anticipate the ethical issues that may arise
during the study. Ethics are individual beliefs of what is right or wrong. Research does involve
collecting data and information from and about individuals, thus ethical behavior and actions are
extremely important. The entire research process must be monitored to ensure each step is
following the highest standards of conduct possible, and properties and participants are
protected. In today’s society, everything must be transparent, and the researcher must be
accountable and responsible. The researcher must be extremely careful of his or her actions when
conducting a study that may be published. Improperly protecting information regarding the
research could have adverse impacts to an organization, customer, research project results, and
participants (“Research Methodologies”, n.d.). For example, if unethical behavior leads to
exaggerated research or results, such as a medicine under research, then it could have severe
issues with patients that use the medicine. If unethical behavior is discovered, it could have an
adverse impact on you and your team’s credibility. Once that credibility is lost, it is very difficult
to get back. Regardless of the research, during the entire process, careful consideration must be
given to honesty, integrity, intellectual property, the use of human subjects, confidentiality, and
social responsibility. How a research team can validate or ensure that ethical behavior is being
followed will also be discussed.
Research must be conducted with honesty. According to Merriam Webster, honesty is
“fairness and straightforwardness of conduct, and adherence to the facts” (“Honesty”, n.d.).
Honesty must be strived for in all research communication. It is important not to deceive
colleagues, the public, and any granting agency with fabricated, falsified, or misrepresented data.
Once the research is dishonest or falsely represents the actual results, then the researcher’s

2. credibility will be lost. In addition, there can be adverse impacts to participants and intellectual
property.
Ethical practices during a research study also ensure integrity over the research project.
Integrity is keeping promises and agreements. Integrity also means the research must act with
sincerity and strive for consistency with their thoughts and actions. The researcher is always held
accountable for his or her actions. Breaking agreements or promises, and being insincere can
violate that accountability, and loose the credibility of the research. Thus integrity is a crucial
consideration for ethical behavior in research projects.
Ethical behavior and actions are also crucial in regards to intellectual property. The term
Intellectual property, deals with any creation of the mind, such as an invention, discovery,
improvements, copyrightable work, trademarks, trade secrets, and any licensable know-how
(“Intellectual Property”, n.d.). The misuse of intellectual property has become widespread in
today’s world. For example, a chemical company lost trade secretes when its employees had
gone to a competitor with their research results (“Misuse if Intellectual Property”, n.d.).
Fortunately for the property holder, existing laws are being strengthened -- and new ones created
– to prevent misuse of intellectual property. Thus, it is very important that there is proper
protection of intellectual property, and it should be used only with prior permission, and properly
cited in the research report. Seeking permission and citing the source in reports will ensure that a
researcher is acting ethically and legally with intellectual property.
There are several ethical issues that must be considered when designing a research that will
use human subjects. First, the primary concern is that the researcher must consider the safety of
the participant. The researcher must carefully consider any risks, and then continually monitor
the research as it proceeds. Next, the researcher must obtain an informed consent from the

3. participants. Next, the researcher must list how privacy and confidentiality concerns will be
approached. The researcher will have to be careful that there is no unauthorized observation of
the research work, and have a process in place to notify participants if this has been violated. The
researcher must also consider how any adverse events will be handled, such as who will provide
care for the participant who is hurt by the study, and who will pay for it. Thus, it is extremely
important that ethical guidelines are followed in regards to research that involves human lives.
Confidentiality is another important concern in regards to conducting a research project. Since
many research projects depends on participants, and their participation may require that they
volunteer information about their beliefs and actions, then the researcher must make sure this
information remains confidential. Furthermore, a participant is more likely to provide honest
responses if they know that their identity will not be exposed. It is the ethical responsibility that
the researcher address privacy issues at the beginning of the project and before publication. In
addition, the researcher must guarantee a participant’s confidentiality.
Ethical behavior and action should also be considered for social responsibility. From a
research project perspective, to be socially responsible is to have an obligation of the researcher
towards the welfare and interests of the society in which the research is being conducted. The
researcher should consider if the research he or she is conducting would benefit society in any
form. The researcher needs to ask, “Will this research enhance society?” Thus, it is an ethical
decision for the researcher to determine if his or her work will benefit society. Then they will be
socially responsible.
Throughout the research process, a researcher and his or her team must validate or ensure that
ethical behavior is being followed. This can be achieved by following guidelines and never
deviating away from them. If there are any deviations, then research should be stopped and

4. investigated. However, if these deviations are necessary, then the subjects and client for whom
the research is being done should be informed. The researcher and his or her team must always
ask, “Is what I am doing right or wrong?” If at any time the research, or any information for it,
does seem wrong, then the research work should be stopped and clarified before proceeding
further. By following these suggestions, a researcher can ensure that ethical behavior is being
followed.
Conclusion:
Ethical behavior and actions are critical to protecting the integrity of organizations,
participants, customers, the research project, and participants. When conducting research, the
researcher must monitor the entire process carefully to ensure each step is behaving or acting
ethically. By doing so, the research will be honest, the intellectual property will be protected, the
human subjects will be guaranteed safety and privacy, and finally, the research will be socially
responsible.
References:
Honesty. (n.d.). Retrieved November 25, 2012, from Merriam Webster Web site:
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/honesty
Intellectual Property. (n.d.). Retrieved November 25, 2012, from University of Minnesota
Teaching Ethics for Research Web site:
http://www.research.umn.edu/ethics/curriculum/intellectual_property.html

5. Misuse of Intellectual Property. (n.d.). Retrieved November 25, 2012, from Kroll Advisory
Solutions Web site: http://www.krolladvisory.com/investigations/misuse-intellectual-
property/
Research Methodologies. (n.d.). Retrieved November 25, 2012, from CTU Online:
http://coursebuildercontent.careeredonline.com/Assets/20000/13751.pdf