Code of Ethics
Introduction
1. This Code of Ethics is adhered to by members of the Sociological Association of Aotearoa (New Zealand).
2. Copies of this Code of Ethics have been sent to funding bodies and other social science organisations in keeping with the professional orientation of the Association.
3. ENQUIRIES about the Code of Ethics are welcomed and should be directed to:
* SAA (NZ) Ethics Committee
* C/- President
* Sociological Association of Aotearoa (NZ)
* Sociology and Social Policy
* School of Social & Cultural Studies
* Victoria University of Wellington
* WELLINGTON
Purpose of the Code of Ethics
1. This code of ethics has a regulatory function but, for the most part, provides guidelines for ethical behaviour and decision-making with respect to research, teaching, publishing and professional conduct. Ultimately, individual sociologists must take responsibility for their ethical behaviour.
This code is not a fixed document. Its revision is an ongoing process.
The context of ethical judgements
2. The social and political context in which ethical judgements are made by sociologists is important. Due regard should be given to the following:
(i) The social world is plural, contradictory and conflictual. It is hard to establish that there exists a singular, non-contradictory "public good".
(ii) Relations of power are involved in all sociological pursuits.
(ii) Sociologists should recognise research as not neutral and should make explicit their epistemological postulates and assumptions.
(iii) Sociologists study sociological problems and topics rather than people per se; people should not be treated as objects in the process of doing research.
(v) Research has effects at a wider social level, as well as on individuals, and these should be addressed.
(vi) The Treaty of Waitangi has implications for both the production
and dissemination of sociological knowledge.
Ethical Statements
3. Sociologists' responsibilities and obligations to colleagues, and hence to the discipline, are based both on the vital benefits of peer review of research and scholarship and on the desirability of maintaining accessibility to research.
4. Sociologists should report results honestly, avoid actions that will violate or diminish the rights of research participants or clients and avoid raising false hopes.
5. Researchers have a responsibility to raise ethical issues with all research team members prior to and while undertaking research.
6. Researchers should protect the welfare and privacy of the people or organisations participating in the research. People and collectivities do not have an absolute right to privacy in their public capacity.
7. Researchers should protect privacy where appropriate by adequately disguising personal identities in written and oral reports of the research and by discussing only data germane to the purpose of the research.
8. Researchers should not reveal information received in the course of the research where an assurance of confidentiality has been promised.
9. Researchers should inform research participants and funding agencies of any limits of confidentiality and anonymity.
10. Researchers should respect the right of funding agencies, host institutions and publishers to be given adequate information about the research and to have their contribution acknowledged.
11. Researchers have a responsibility to maintain high standards of competence and to maintain knowledge of current information and methods in the areas they are researching.
12. Researchers should make full and honest disclosure, in both written reports and to researched participants, of financial and other forms of support of their research.
13. Researchers should give an account of their methodology and report the limitations of their research design.
14. Researchers should ensure that information of interest to individuals, groups and organisations be made available in a timely, acceptable and accessible manner.
15. Any claims or conclusions presented by the researchers ought to be
supported by the evidence.
Research Participants
16. Wherever appropriate, informed consent should be sought from those individuals directly involved in the research to be undertaken. Thus, researchers should:
* inform participants about the purpose and nature of the research and
its possible implications for them.
* make it clear that all have the freedom of choice to participate or
not. This includes students.
* make it clear to research participants from whom formal consent has
been obtained that they may withdraw that consent at any time.
17. Researchers should attempt to anticipate and avoid possible harm to participants. However, where harm occurs, researchers have an obligation to take all possible steps to minimise such harm, and to account for their actions.
18. Research participants are entitled to receive appropriate feedback on the outcome of research; researchers should make provision for this.
19. Before the research starts, the researcher should clarify with the client:
* the right of the researcher to use the research results commercially
or otherwise, or to publish research and information independently from
the client.
* the nature of the responsibility and liability of the researcher regarding
the use made of the research results by the client once the research is
completed.
20. When working for a multiplicity of clients which can be or are in competitive positions, the right to use information and results across projects should be carefully defined beforehand.
21. When research results are published independently by the researcher,
the institutional context within which the research took place should
be made clear. This includes the objective of the client organisation,
the nature and extent of funding and the role of the client in framing
and defining research.
Teaching and Student Research
22. Ethical consequences outlined in this document apply equally to student research and ethics should be included in the training of sociologists.
23. Teachers are responsible for the ethics of any research required of undergraduate students.
24. Supervisors have a responsibility to discuss with each graduate student the ethics of that student's research.
25. Students retain ethical responsibility for their own actions. Students should take account of the advice on ethics provided by their teachers and supervisors.
26. Supervisors and teachers have a responsibility to ensure that the community is not misused as a student resource. They must take care not to exploit groups through repetitive and burdensome demands.
27. When student research is funded by outside agencies, supervisors
have a responsibility to ensure that a suitable research contract is agreed
upon which provides appropriate remuneration, explicit agreements as to
ownership and the use of data produced, and protection against unethical
pressures.
Authorship
28. Sociologists must acknowledge all persons who contributed significantly to the research and publication process.
29. Material taken from published or unpublished work must be identified
and referenced to its author(s)
Procedures and Conventions
30. This Code of Ethics has educational as well as exhortative and regulatory dimensions. We acknowledge that a major goal envisaged in the development and promulgation of this Code of Ethics is the enhancement of our collective knowledge of ethical issues and sensitivity to the various ways in which such issues may arise; and we affirm the responsibility of our Association to promote the development of such knowledge and sensitivity among all sociologists whether or not they are members of the Association. A resource group, whose names will be published annually in the Association's newsletter, will be available for consultation by members throughout the year and will be represented at annual conferences of the Association.
31. When a sociologist who is a member of the Sociological Association of Aotearoa violates ethical standards, sociologists who know first-hand of such activities should, if possible, attempt to rectify the situation. Failing an informal solution, sociologists should bring unethical activities to the attention of the Executive of the Sociological Association of Aotearoa. An Ethics Committee, a sub-committee of the Executive, will be appointed to consider the matter and will forward a recommendation to the Executive of the Sociological Association of Aotearoa (New Zealand) for consideration. The recommendation may or may not be one of the following actions:
(a) Apply no sanctions
(b) Suspend the membership and attendant privileges of a member for a period to be recommended by the Ethics Committee.
(c) Request the resignation of a member.
(d) Terminate the membership of a member.
In every case, including when the Committee concludes that the activity discussed was not unethical, a report is to be made to the membership outlining the issues and describing the criteria by which the conclusions were reached.
A member of the Association may ask the Ethics Committee to consider
(and the Executive Committee to make a statement on) the ethical standing
of work presented as "sociological research", or people identifying
themselves as "sociologists".
Ratified by Sociological Association of Aotearoa (New Zealand), Annual
General Meeting, 7 December 1990
