Training materials for teachers of learners with severe, profound and complex learning difficulties: level All

Research responsibilities

Once educators become involved in research, they have responsibilities to:

The people involved to make sure they are fully informed about the research, and not harmed as a result (eg physically, personally, socially and emotionally, etc.);
Participants and fellow researchers that their research reporting is truthful, open to investigation and useful – others may want to use or build on our findings.

There are also research principles that researchers are expected to work by:

Truth and honesty;
Respect;
Knowledge and competency;
Openness and transparency;
Open-mindedness;
Thoroughness;
Commitment;
Causing no harm.

Research ethics

Research ethics are a code of practice for people carrying out research. They set boundaries and guide people how to behave in research situations. They are based on the core principles of justice, respect and doing no harm (Belmont Report, 1979).

Research ethics can be divided into three areas:

Your own beliefs as a researcher;
How you work with others in research;
How you carry out the research itself.

The headlines

Do not assume that all researchers work ethically – media stories tell us otherwise!

The Telegraph (3.3.11): Millions of surgery patients at risk in drug research fraud scandal.

Lessons from history are even more horrifying:

1946-1947: The Doctors Trials (part of the Nuremburg Trials);
1958 Thalidomide;
1932-1972 Tuskegee Syphilis Study.

You can find out more about these research scandals in the following leaflet: Research scandals – lessons from history.

As a result, international codes of practice were developed (see 'Find out more (2)').

Research guidelines

Today many professional organisations publish research guidelines. Most recently, organisations have added specialist guidelines for including young and vulnerable people in research and for research related issues such as consent from people with
developmental disabilities.

For example:

British Educational Research Association (BERA) guidelines (2011)

National Children's Bureau (2011)

Social Research Association (2003)

Individual research projects also have ethical statements: Ethical research code and form

Find out more (1)

British Educational Research Association (2011) Ethical Guidelines for Educational Research. London: BERA (accessed 12.1.12).

Social Research Association: Ethical guidelines (2003) London: Social Research Association

Shaw, C., Brady, L.-M. and Davey, C. (2011) Guidelines for Research with Children and Young People. London: National Children's Bureau (accessed 12.1.12).

Find out more (2)