STUDENT

INQUIRY

RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT: ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS

All inquiry topics that students choose will need to take into consideration some ethical guidelines that
generally need to be addressed before any research is undertaken. To undertake ethical research
requires the researcher (you the student) to conduct both yourself and the project with integrity and
honesty and to demonstrate respect for peoples rights, beliefs, perceptions, customs and cultural
heritage.
Ethical guidelines will generally need to be considered with any research that involves the study of:

human beings (behaviour or attitudes/emotions), or

animals and when using the opinions/ ideas / data, or
knowledge (intellectual property) from other people.

Addressing ethical issues is an important part of any research process.

When conducting research you must be honest and ethical. You need to follow these guidelines

(taken

from: Research Project Subect Advice and Strategies 308801033 (April 2011) SACE Board of South Australia 2011)

1.

Be sensitive to other peoples feelings.

2.

Respect the dignity and worth of all people involved in your research. Be aware of their age, gender, cultural or language
background, disability, or socio-economic status.

3.

Make sure that people who give you information understand what your research is about and what you want them to do. Make
sure that people who give you information understand how the information you get from them will be used.

4.

Make sure that you get their permission to use the information that you gather.

5.

Make sure that you gain appropriate permission from your school and parent or legal guardian.

6.

Keep confidential any personal, identifying information and information that may not have been intended for other people.

7.

Use information from the research only for the purpose for which you asked permission.

8.

Acknowledge other peoples words and ideas, and make sure that the work you produce is your own.

9.

Take careful consideration of any legal, cost, or safety matters when you are deciding on your topic or question.

10. Take careful consideration that your research question or topic is appropriate and not offensive to the participants or your
supervisors.
11. Have your research questions approved by your teacher before you start your research.
12. Make sure that you feel safe at all times. Do not put yourself at risk. If you have any concerns it may be wise to take an adult
with you.

Information sheets / Consent Forms

Research participants need to be informed of the research purpose and aims, generally detailed
on a consent form. Consent forms should include the following information: the objective and
purposes of the research, any experiment procedures, possible harms or discomforts, expected
benefits of the procedure, any long or short term risks, duration of the research, and the right for
participants to withdraw at any stage.

Written Informed Consent needs to be given by any participant before the commencement of
research.

Deliberately left blank to facilitate double sided printing.

STUDENT
INQUIRY

RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT: ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS CONTRACT

(Submit as part of your research proposal/folio)
My Inquiry/Research Topic is:
What is the minimum amount of frames per second the human eye can see before
the image becomes distorted.

I have read and understood the ethical guidelines outlined above. I have read and understood
the PowerPoint What are ethics on the SIP portal
Signed________________________________________
______________________________________

Date

Please identify any ethical issues for your individual inquiry project. List the relevant ethical issues that
relate to the four general principles of ethical research: integrity, do no harm, respect for persons; and
justice. (Taken from what are ethics? PowerPoint.) List your ethical issues in the table below with a
brief description about the research processes they relate to. For example: I need to use others
peoples knowledge to create my own knowledge and this is important ethically as I must not take
credit for someone elses work. Then give a brief description of how you will manage these ethical
considerations.

IDENTIFICATION OF ETHICAL ISSUES AND MANAGEMENT MEASURES

Integrity
strategy]

[ethical issue related to project]

When doing research on websites or

interviewing an expert on the subject, it is
easy to plagiarize.

Do no harm
strategy]

[proposed

In order to keep integrity during my

research, I will make sure to reference any
sources I use, and reference any experts I
might talk to.

[ethical issue related to project]

During the experiment, subjects will be

asked to sit in front of a screen with a
moving image. This image may include some
flashes which may cause seizures.

[proposed

Before the experiment, subjects will be

asked to fill out a form asking whether or not
they have had seizures before.

Respect for persons [ethical issue related to project]

strategy]
3

[proposed

Instead of asking how old they are, they will

be asked to fill out a form, ticking a box with
their age bracket. This form will not have
their name on it, instead a number. Subjects
are allowed to stop the experiment
whenever they want if they feel
uncomfortable or feel like their privacy is
being invaded.

In order to get good results for the

experiment, subjects will be assorted into
age groups.

Justice
[ethical issue related to project]
|
[proposed
strategy]
The experiment will take roughly 5 minutes
If the subject feels the information gained
from the subjects day, and the experiment
from the experiment is not worth their time,
might not be beneficial for them.
they can choose not to do the experiment.

I __________________________________________________ (write name) state that to the best of my

knowledge how I will address all ethical issues have been outlined above.

Signed________________________________________
______________________________________

Date

========================================================
=======================================
To be completed by SIP teacher
Inquiry Topic Approved

/ approved with amendments

Approved by ___________________________________
Date_______________________________________

Teacher notes:
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STUDENT
INQUIRY

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