Principles of Integrity for Psychological and Social Research
The purpose of this statement is to outline some generic principles to which
social scientists should be committed. This is the minimum that can be
expected of any researcher. Needless to say, particular researchers may have
additional commitments.
A researcher’s primary responsibility is the pursuit of knowledge that is of
value, either directly or indirectly. This implies a commitment to some basic
methodological principles. These are concerned with balancing the
development of new ideas against a concern with minimizing the risk of error
in the conclusions reached. Associated with this commitment is steadfast
resistance to pressures that threaten to distort the process of research in
favour of extraneous interests.
There are, of course, ethical constraints on how research is to be pursued. The
main ethical principles relevant include the following:
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To minimize the risk of serious harm
To respect the autonomy of individuals, organizations,
communities
To preserve privacy
To maintain reciprocity in relations with those providing data
and
It is important to emphasise that these are principles rather than rules; in other
words, their implications in particular situations are a matter of
interpretation. Furthermore, they are defeasible: adherence to one or more of
them may have to be suspended on particular occasions. The reason for this is
that their implications can conflict with one another, and may also conflict
with methodological considerations and with practical exigencies stemming
from the circumstances in which the research must be carried out. For
example, paying informants for data will sometimes be justifiable in terms of
reciprocity, but doing this can also be an inducement that breaches respect for
autonomy. It may also sometimes threaten the reliability of the data that are
provided, but there are also occasions when it will be judged practically
unavoidable, since the data would not otherwise be available.
It is the sole responsibility of researchers to deploy the interpretation and
judgment required in applying methodological and ethical principles. The
most fundamental component of researcher integrity is judiciously to balance
these various considerations on particular occasions, and to engage in
continual reflection, rectifying any errors as far as this is possible and
necessary.
[Covering note: the aim here is to provide a brief overview of what researcher
integrity entails. I have drawn the specification of ethical principles from the
literature on social research ethics. These four principles seem to me to cover
the basics and have the virtue of being relatively clear and specific, even
though as principles they cannot carry with them detailed prescriptions.]
Martyn Hammersley 20.5.13