ABSTRACT
This chapter presents ethical issues that must be considered in applied research and describes the steps the researchers must go through to obtain institutional approval to conduct thesis, dissertation, or independent research. It discusses the ethical guidelines researchers must follow when using single case designs (SCDs) to answer research questions related to the effectiveness of their instructional and treatment programs. Some agencies have separate processes for practitioners and outside researchers. It is prudent to attempt to learn as much as possible about the agency and their procedures prior to requesting permission to conduct research. Researchers should be sensitive to the disruption a research project may cause; however, they may be less familiar with the concerns that will be presented by community employers and managers. The process begins after a researcher has selected a research topic and obtained approval from an academic advisor or thesis research sponsor to proceed with the project.
