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improved treatments for illnesses; the discovery of information concerning one’s welfare; the
identification of historical, written, oral or cultural traditions; or the satisfaction of contributing
to society through research.
• Research benefits particular groups and society as a whole. Thus, insights into political
behaviour may produce better policy; information about the incidence of disease may improve
public health; sociological data about lifestyles may yield social reform; and disciplines based
on, for example, texts, dance, theatre or oral history, continue to illuminate past and present
realities. (Tri-Council, 1998: i4).

The Canadian Sociological Society’s somewhat briefer code of ethics charges researchers with the need
to, “use utmost self-discipline and professionalism while choosing a research problem.”

The Indian Sociological Society appears to put more emphasis on whether the research focus will
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produce “original work”:

Researchers in sociology must be trained to use utmost self-discipline and professionalism
while choosing a research problem; deciding about the methodology and theoretical formula-
tions, with the sole aim to produce original work, with self- checks on plagiarism.

Sometimes, when researchers want to focus on a community or a social issue that has not been studied
so far, the pursuit of originality in the choice of research topic itself comes into conflict with the
community or parties’ resistance to being studied. At such times, if the researcher cannot convince the
target community of the general benefits of research, then he or she will have to abandon the project.
Selecting a research also depends on such research being feasible from the point of view of the target/
participant group.
A researcher may select a topic of research because of personal interest in the problem to be addressed.
Using research as “therapeutic action” in this manner could adversely influence the outcome of
the research, notwithstanding the precautions taken. Under such circumstance it is better to avoid
choosing such a topic.

Having said that, much of research that assists social movements is of this kind and it remains a
relevant and necessary research area. While this does not prevent the topic from being selected,
additional precautions must be used to ensure that the study remains unbiased at all levels.

BSA (2017) also points out that in choosing the research topic the researcher must be certain that it is
within his or her skill and knowledge range. It is unethical to accept research commitments in areas
beyond the scope of the researcher’s training. In a collaborative study it is necessary that the requisite
skills for research on the chosen topic are available within the group.

Literature Survey

It is the literature survey that narrows and refines the objects of research and leads to the framing of
the research question. Today, there is a huge bank of literature available to researchers, more so than
ever before. What ethical issues need to be flagged in the course of a literature review?
• Ensure that literature search is not influenced by the researcher’s bias. The parameters of the
research review must be clearly defined and constructed ensuring that bias, inadvertent or
deliberate, is avoided.
• The researcher should determine if he or she has the tools to conduct the review. For instance,
if it is a historical study, will the material be available to the researcher and is he or she trained

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