The first study on speeding is well-intentioned but the end is unethical. Confidentiality is a very important aspect in research. Researchers need to stay within the bounds of the research and not trying to get personal information without consent (Yip, Han, & Sng, 2016). Therefore, the researchers should not have traced the addresses of those over speeding or sent email messages to them. The study should have only focused on the objective; to establish whether drivers were going beyond the set maximum speed limit. Tracing the addresses was going a bit too far, and the researchers risk being accused of violating personal privacy. Secondly, the researchers need not to have captured the license plate numbers of the vehicles. If such information lands in the hands of malicious individuals such as carjackers, the security of the drivers could be at risk.
Regarding the second issue, researchers have a moral obligation to report the incident to the police. Though it is a study, it is not prudent to witness crime and fail to raise alarm or report to the relevant authorities. Sometimes one can be sued for conspiracy or being an accomplice when a crime is witnessed and not reported. Many girls in Lloyd (2012) book found themselves behind bars because they were accomplices of crime. For example, some of them witnessed their boyfriends or pimps selling drugs or engaging in robbery but failed to report.
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Lastly, one crucial aspect during research is obtaining consent. It is unethical to conduct research on an organization or institution without their consent (Nijhawan et al., 2013). Such a study is akin to spying and it can have legal consequences. When students pretend to be victims and call for assistance, the organization may respond positively only for the supposed victims to go missing. At least, the senior management of the organization needs to be informed before the study is conducted.
References
Lloyd, R. (2012). Girls like us: Fighting for a world where girls are not for sale: A memoir . HarperPerennial.
Nijhawan, L. P., Janodia, M. D., Muddukrishna, B. S., Bhat, K. M., Bairy, K. L., Udupa, N., & Musmade, P. B. (2013). Informed consent: Issues and challenges. Journal of advanced pharmaceutical technology & research , 4 (3), 134.
Yip, C., Han, N. R., & Sng, B. L. (2016). Legal and ethical issues in research. Indian journal of anaesthesia , 60 (9), 684–688. doi:10.4103/0019-5049.190627
