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Question: Discuss ethical issues in data analysis, interpretation, and/or writing of research.
Answer: Ethical Issues in the Data Analysis and Interpretation
- Anonymity of the participants, by use of aliases or pseudonyms to protect identities.
- The collected and analysed data needs to be kept for a period of time then discarded. Recommended time is between 5-10 years.
- The ownership of the collected data must be decided on by the use of personal agreements. An extension of this must include sharing of the data with parties not involved in the project.
- An accurate account in the interpretation of data needs to be provided by the researcher. May need debriefing between the participants and the researcher, or the checking the accuracy of the data.
Ethical Issues in the Writing of the Research
- Discussion of the use of a non biased language because of gender, religion, sexual orientation, racial or ethical group, disability or age.
- The possibility of suppressing, falsifying, or inventing findings to meet the needs of an audience or the researcher.
- Repercussions of conducting the research on certain groups must be anticipated, and not to use the results to an advantage of one group or another.
- The results must be released in a study design so that the readers can evaluate for themselves the quality of the study.
Source: Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches, 2nd edition, by John W. Creswell.
Cartoon by Bob Moran