III. Basic Tenets of Ethical Research Practice

The involvement of human participants in research that has no merit cannot be ethically justifiable. Nor can research with researchers who have no integrity.

From the very beginning of any project, the development and consideration of proposals should be carefully considered with respect to the principles of conduct throughout the research, the accountability of the researchers, and the potential benefits of the project.

The researchers must plan a good investigative design informed by a commitment to research of the highest quality. The researchers must anticipate likely difficulties and address how these might be solved prior to the commencement of the project.

Any sources of funding, research sponsors, conflicts of interest or partiality must be explicit.


Reference: Australian National Statement p.12.

p19Anthropologist Pal Nyiri conducting fieldwork in China. Photo courtesy Pal Nyiri, all rights reserved.