Deck 3: Understanding Research Ethics

Question 1

Ethics is business research is:

A) A list of the right way to do things in business research.
B) A list of rules governing the way in which to conduct business research.
C) The code under which researchers can be prosecuted if they break the law.
D) Simply the application of ethical principles and standards to business research.

Answer 1

D

Question 2

The American Marketing Association's code of ethics covers such issues as:

A) Product placement and product development.
B) The codes and principles of local markets.
C) The cost of advertising and assessments of the value of advertising.
D) The responsibility of the marketer, marketers' professional conduct, and the principles of honesty, fairness and transparency.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Two fundamental ethical issues in research are the integrity of the researcher and the quality of the research.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

One critical question that should be asked of every research project is whether the project warrants all the work, expenditure of resources, and trespass on the time and experiences of potential participants.

Question 5

Unethical, and in some cases illegal, behaviour in economics has caused a global economic downturn.

Question 6

It is important for standards in ethics in research that every researcher becomes an ethically reflective practitioner.

Question 7

Ethics in business, and consequently in business research has in recent years become a critical issue globally, because basic ethical standards were not adhered to in some businesses, even perhaps in some business sectors.

Question 8

Reflexivity is a conscious awareness of the contribution the researcher makes to the development of meaning in the research project, throughout the research process.

Question 9

To become an ethical practitioner one requires a formal, open and acknowledged critical engagement with ethical standards and behaviours.

Question 10

Ethics can be defined as:

A) The moral principles governing the conduct of an individual, a group, or an organisation.
B) Rules governing society.
C) The basis of the criminal code.
D) A list of rights and wrongs.

Question 11

Two key ethical questions researchers should ask themselves are what are the potential harms that might befall participants in their research and what are the potential risks that might arise from their research,

Question 12

The principle of informed consent is a particularly critical ethical issue.

Question 13

Ethics can be defined as the moral principals governing the conduct of an individual, a group, or an organisation.

Question 14

The researcher should use any power or influence they have when and where they can in order to further their research agenda.

Question 15

As a researcher, you should critically engage with every aspect of your research project.

Question 16

Research ethics is simply a matter of getting the permissions necessary and the forms signed.

Question 17

The informed consent form, as well as providing a record of consent to participate in the research project, can serve as a prompt for ethical reflection, and it can provide an insight into the ethical standards of the research project.

Question 18

Ethics in business is the application of ethical principles and standards to business research.

Question 19

The first priniciple of the Hippocratic Oath is:

A) The market decides.
C) Above all, do no harm.
B) Cash is king.
D) Carpe diem. (Seize the day)

Question 20

The researcher reflects on the ethical issues in each phase of the research process.

Question 21

The use of openness and transperancy:

A) Is one of the tried and trusted ways of avoiding potential harms in the design and development of a research project.
B) Is not to be advised in the design and development of a research project.
C) Should perhaps be an aspiration for all researchers.
D) Is only something a complete beginner would attempt in designing and developing a research project.

Question 22

In open discussions about your research:

A) Someone will steal your ideas.
B) You will bore people so much they will stop talking to you.
C) You have to be careful that you don't lose marks for not being clever enough.
D) Potential issues and pitfalls will arise and they can be dealt with immediately.

Question 23

A research ethics committee (REC) is:

A) A barrier to research.
B) A means by which some organisations protect themselves from being sued.
C) A nuisance.
D) Convened by organisations to monitor and police the ethical standards of research projects carried out under its auspices.

Question 24

As a researcher, you should critically engage with:

A) Each and every aspect of your research project.
B) Your thesis supervisor.
C) Your institution in terms of the supports provided for research by the institution.
D) The participants in your research.

Question 25

The Code of Ethics of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Scotland provides guidance on:

A) The latest accounting principles.
B) The fundamental ethical principle, do no harm.
C) Five fundamental ethical principles, among them integrity, professional competence and due care, confidentiality and professional behaviour.
D) The leading accounting firms in Scotland.

Question 26

The Code of Ethics of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Scotland applies to:

A) Fully qualitified accountants.
B) All members, including students, in their professional and business activities, whether those activities are paid or voluntary.
C) Fully qualified accountants working in a paid capacity.
D) All accountants working in a paid capacity.

Question 27

The ethical standards of the research project are evident to the reader of the research project in:

A) The first chapter of the research project.
B) Every element of the written record of the research (the thesis or the report of the research).
C) The formal ethical reflection on the research in the research methodology section of the report of the research.
D) Their assessment of the manner in which the researcher engaged with the population of the research.

Question 28

Validity in research is:

A) The question of how correct the researcher is in the findings they draw from their research.
B) The seal of approval the research superviser gives the research when s/he approves the research proposal.
C) A question of how logical, truthful, robust, sound, reasonable, meaningful and useful the research is.
D) A question of the integrity of the researcher.

Question 29

Power is:

A) Important to have in undertaking research.
B) A substantial ethical issue.
C) Something that accrues naturally to the researcher when they have completed a good research project.
D) Rightly vested in the researcher in the research project.

Question 30

The opportunity to undertake supervised research is offered to students in order to:

A) Try to catch them out so that they can be marked down in their final results.
B) Ensure that they don't make mistakes and embarrass the institution.
C) Facilitate them in the development of research skills.
D) Ensure that they don't break any laws.

Question 31

The value of every research project is predicated upon:

A) The amount of time the researcher can devote to the research.
B) The amount of money the research has spent on the research.
C) The integrity of the researcher.
D) The amount of time the research/thesis superviser has given the researcher.

Question 32

Informed consent is:

A) The consent the gatekeepers give the researcher to carry out the research.
B) Consent given by a person to participate in research when that person has been informed of the possible, potential or likely consequences for them and for others following their participation.
C) Is when a potential participant informs the researcher that they consent to participate in the research.
D) Is a formal written consent potential participants must give the researcher before they can participate in the research.

Question 33

In order to become an ethical practitioner it is important to begin to think like :

A) Mother Theresa of Calcutta.
C) The Governor of the Central Bank.
B) Sir Alan Sugar.
D) An ethical practitioner.

Question 34

Anonymity in research is:

A) What the researcher hopes for when s/he goes into the field.
B) Automatically relinquished by all participants in research.
C) Easily accomplished.
D) A guarantee that researchers make to participants, individual and/or organisations, that they will not be identified at any time during the research and that they will not be identifiable in any way in any written account of the research, the report of the research or any subsequent publications.

Question 35

In order to undertake research ethically:

A) We must take a course in research ethics.
B) We must make a list of all the things that could possibly go wrong in the research project.
C) We must, to begin with, understand the basic concepts of research. It is unethical to present yourself as a researcher if you do not know how to conduct research.
D) We must not engage in criminal actitivity.

Question 36

Plagiarism is:

A) The presentation of somebody else's work as your own.
B) An outbreak of the black death.
C) The way in which students sometimes challenge their teachers.
D) Is the way in which some students lag behind others.

Question 37

It is important for standards of ethics in research:

A) That each researcher learns the basic rules of research.
B) That each researcher swear an oath of ethics.
C) That each researcher becomes an ethically reflective practitioner.
D) That each student read at least one book on research ethics.

Question 38

Reflexity in research is:

A) An alternative therapy offered to stress out researchers.
B) The researcher's active thoughtful engagement with their research and understanding and acknowledgement of the way in which they themselves shape and influence that research.
C) The fast reactions of researchers to changes in their research projects.
D) The instincts of the research at play in the reseach.

Question 39

Confidentiality in research is:

A) The way in which the researcher only discusses the research with a few named individuals.
B) Relates to the people the researcher takes into her/his confidence.
C) Generally refers to the guarantee that researchers often make to participants, individuals and/or organisations, that their contribution to the research project will remain confidential.
D) Relates to the request the researcher makes to participants that the research remain confidential.

Question 40

In recent years unethical, and in some cases illegal, behaviour in economics has caused:

A) A global economic downturn.
B) A great deal of goodwill towards businesses globally.
C) Substantial growth and employment.
D) Great confidence in global financial markets.

Question 41

The two issues to be considered throughout each stage of the research process are?

Question 42

Ethics in business is:

A) The essential application of ethical standards in business, throughout every aspect and element of the business.
B) A nuisance.
C) An expensive luxury.
D) A necessary evil.

Question 43

What is meant by the term 'the integrity of the researcher'?

Question 44

What are ethics?