ABSTRACT
Researchers have the moral and practical responsibility for constantly reflecting on their research practices throughout the life of a research project, including its writing-up and publication phases, as well as taking cognisance of research ethics guidelines from research bodies and institutions. Researchers must have a care for participants in their research projects, especially those who are vulnerable, such as children, who may not fully understand what is involved in taking part in a project. However, all people who lack power in an institution are vulnerable to unethical manipulation by people with power and authority. Researchers need to be wary of contributing to such unethical practice, even unintentionally, by thinking carefully about the implications for participants and their institutions in the short and long term of the research methods they use. Involved in this duty of care is helping participants appreciate the benefits of the research in terms that they can understand and how they might gain from it. Researchers need to develop and demonstrate ethical field practice in research in order to sustain the confidence of participants in a research project, as well as generating trustworthy outcomes to research.
