Page 54 - Academic and Research Book_WEB

The study assumed that the teacher absenteeism was merely truancy without even exploring to find
out why teachers were irregular in their attendance. Ethical considerations would first inquire into
why the teachers were absent so often and would try to resolve the problem from that perspective.

Constructing the Research Design, Methodology, and Tools

Sensitivity to ethics cannot be the sole responsibility of the researcher who designs and directs
research. Every individual who assists in the research is responsible for adhering to the principles of
ethics.
High quality of research is of course a prerequisite for a study that follows ethical principles. But often
the quality of the research depends on how the research is administered. This means that the quality
of research in an empirical study, for instance, it depends on how tools are administered in the field.
(Molyneux, et al., 2009). Therefore, research designs are subject not only to ethical reviews but more
importantly to scientific reviews. A scientifically sound research design does not necessarily mean that
it is ethically sound. But a poor scientific design is most unlikely to be ethically sound.

The objective of research design, methods, tools is to maximize the gathering of data that the study
requires. However, ethically, research methods and tools must also be appropriate to the competence,
knowledge, contexts, and interests of the population under study. A research design that does not root
itself in the study environment, considering the cultural and local contexts, will not yield appropriate
information and data, and will not be an ethically sound study.

As an illustration, a research design that is premised on a patriarchal, class society will yield incorrect
data in a tribal society. It would also yield an unfair presentation of that society.
Therefore, the underpinnings of a research design must be examined and understood before it is
adopted to avoid inherent and historical bias.

Similarly, methods and tools must be appropriate to the participants of the research and to the data
being gathered.

Illustration 1:

A study in Bangladesh among poor women was designed around the use of symbols to collect data
instead of the usual methods like questionnaire or interviews. This yielded more accurate information.
(Krause, 2020).

Illustration 2:

A study to assess the food a rural community of marginal and tribal farm folk could collect and store
for the times of scarcity used an especially designed mapping tool. The tool required the types of food
and location of such food items to be documented through the various seasons, allowing for deeper
understanding of where and how food is gathered and preserved for lean times. This enabled the study
population to become active participants in the study and acknowledged the fact that they would be
able to best communicate through locational diagrams (personal communication).

Illustration 3:

A study examining saving behaviour in a semi-urban community devised an anonymized game that
captured the many patterns of such behaviour without individuals revealing sensitive information.

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