LESSON 69 - RESEARCH METHODOLOGY: SECTION 3.9: ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS WHILE CONDUCTING RESEARCH

LESSON 69 - RESEARCH METHODOLOGY: SECTION 3.9: ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS WHILE CONDUCTING RESEARCH

by Prof. Lydia Wambugu

Humanities, Social Sciences & Thought Science — General & History GPResearch and information: generalGPSResearch methods
🎙 Prof. Lydia Wambugu 👥 29K 📅 December 10, 2021 ⏱ 12 min 👁 9K 📄 tutorial 🧭 2026-08-17
Available in: English (current) Français

Keywords

ethicsbeneficenceautonomynon-maleficenceconfidentiality

Summary

This lesson, part of a research methodology course, focuses on Section 3.9 of a research proposal, which addresses ethical considerations. The instructor, Prof. Lydia Wambugu, explains the meaning of ethics as norms distinguishing acceptable from unacceptable behavior, and emphasizes their centrality in social science research involving human subjects. She outlines key ethical principles: beneficence (research should do good), autonomy (participants’ free choice via informed consent), non-maleficence (avoid harm), justice (fair treatment), veracity (honesty), privacy (respecting limits), confidentiality and anonymity (protecting identity), protection of vulnerable groups, and the importance of researcher competence and respect for intellectual property. The lesson concludes by advising researchers to select 3-5 relevant ethical principles for their own Section 3.9, based on their research problem. The instructor also mentions the significance of the study (Section 1.6) as justification for research benefit. The video is a straightforward tutorial, likely aimed at graduate students writing research proposals.

148 words

Critical Evaluation

Value of the Information & Strength of the Argument

The video provides a clear and systematic overview of ethical principles in research, which is valuable for students and early-career researchers. The instructor explains each principle with practical examples, such as the risk of job loss for participants, making the content relatable. The argumentation is coherent and logically structured, moving from the definition of ethics to specific principles and their application. However, the discussion is largely descriptive and lacks critical engagement with complex ethical dilemmas or contrasting viewpoints. The value lies in its pedagogical clarity rather than in-depth analysis.

Scientific Rigor, Source Quality, Title Accuracy

The scientific rigor is moderate: the content is accurate but presented without explicit citations to academic literature or ethical guidelines, relying on the instructor’s expertise. The quality of sources is limited to the instructor’s own course materials and website, which are not peer-reviewed. The title accurately reflects the content, and the video fulfills its stated learning outcomes. The description provides links to the instructor’s website and courses, but these are not used as sources for the ethical principles discussed. Overall, the video is a useful introductory resource but not a rigorous academic reference.

197 words

Title / Content Match

The title accurately reflects the content, which focuses on ethical considerations in research methodology.

Quality & Reliability

7/10

The content is a clear and structured tutorial on research ethics, covering key principles accurately. However, it lacks citations to external sources and is based on the instructor's expertise, which limits its depth and verifiability.

Key Moments

Markers derived by PSI from the transcript: the creator did not define chapters.

Cited Sources

  • Research Methods Class Website — The instructor's website providing access to the research methods course and related resources.
  • Consultancy Services — Mentioned in the context of paid consultancy work and ethical considerations.
  • IBM SPSS Course — Mentioned as a related course for data analysis.
  • Research Methods eBook — The instructor's book on research methods, referenced as a resource.
  • YouTube Channel Subscription — Link to subscribe to the channel.

Concurring Sources

  • Belmont Report — The Belmont Report outlines ethical principles (respect for persons, beneficence, justice) that align with the video's discussion.
  • Research Ethics (Wikipedia) — Provides a general overview of research ethics, consistent with the video's content.

Contribution & Novelties

The video offers a concise and structured introduction to ethical principles in research, specifically tailored for writing Section 3.9 of a research proposal. Its novelty lies in its pedagogical approach, breaking down complex ethical concepts into actionable guidelines for students. It emphasizes the practical application of ethics in research design, which is often underexplored in similar tutorials.

Pour aller plus loin :

  • Belmont Report — The foundational document outlining ethical principles for research with human subjects, directly relevant to the principles discussed.
  • Informed Consent in Research — Provides a broader context on the requirement of informed consent, a key aspect of autonomy.
  • Research Ethics (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy) — An academic overview of research ethics, offering deeper philosophical perspectives.

119 words

Radar Profile

The radar profile shows a balanced performance across all dimensions, with slightly higher scores in quality of information and fiability, indicating a solid but not exceptional resource. The lower score in technical level suggests the content is accessible to a broad audience, which is appropriate for a tutorial.

Reliability 7/10