Ethical Issues and Values in Research

This chapter introduces the reader to ethical issues related to most research approaches in social science and education and provides an in-depth background and rationale for adhering to ethics in research practice. It fosters an appreciation of ethical strategies in undertaking research involving both humans and non-humans, but particularly the need for respecting human dignity. The stages of intellectual property in research are highlighted with a view to conscientise the reader on the need to respect and acknowledge other people's work. The conflict between positivists and social constructionists, which arises due to differences between subjectivity and objectivity is also noted and explored, leading to an examination of what values may mean in a research inquiry.