A code of ethics refers to a guideline formulated to enable professionals in a given sector to carry out their duties and responsibilities with integrity and honesty. The American Sociological Association (ASA) code of ethics outlines the ethical standards and principles that professional sociologists must observe as they carry out their duties and responsibility (Campbell, 2016). The principles of the ASA code of ethics are professional competence, integrity, professional and scientific responsibility, respect for human rights, dignity, and diversity as well as social responsibility.
The code of ethics is very important in research since it protects the welfare of the subject. The code of ethics safeguards the participants from any harm caused by the research. For example, the unethical research conducted by Nazis where they conducted a gruesome experiment on Jewish prisoners could have been prevented if there was a well-established code of ethics. The code of ethics also safeguards the integrity and reputation of a given profession. The ASA Code of Ethics ensures that all the research conducted by the sociologists does not compromise the reputation of the profession.
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There are several ethical research factors that should be considered to ensure that my research is not deceptive. The three core concepts of ethical research, according to the Belmont Report, include respect for persons, beneficence, and Justice (Miracle, 2016). The research should uphold the integrity of the subject through consent. All the individuals participating in a study must willingly consent and be given all the information concerning the research. Beneficence involves protecting the individuals in the research from any emotional, physical, or psychological harm due to the research. Justice in the study involves the fair distribution of the burdens and benefits of research. This means that the researcher should not be biased based on the race, gender, sexual orientation, or social status of the participants. Considering these factors will ensure that the research is objective and does not raise any ethical concerns.
References
Campbell, R. (2016). “It's the way that you do it”: Developing an ethical framework for community psychology research and action. American Journal of Community Psychology , 58 (3-4), 294-302.
Miracle, V. A. (2016). The Belmont Report: The triple crown of research ethics. Dimensions of Critical Care Nursing , 35 (4), 223-228.