BBA RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 6
ETHICS AND BUSINESS RESEARCH
Ethics in business research refers to a code of conduct or expected societal norm of behavior while conducting research. Ethical conduct applies to the organization and the members that sponsor the research, the researchers who undertake the research, and the respondents who provide them with the necessary data The observance of ethics begins with the person instituting the research, who should do so in good faith, pay attention to what the results indicate, and surrendering the ego, pursue organizational rather than self-interests. Ethical conduct should also be reflected in the behavior of the researchers who conduct the investigation, the participants who provide the data, the analysts who provide the results, and the entire research team that presents the interpretation of the results and suggests alternative solutions.
Thus, ethical behavior pervades each step of the research processdata collection, data analysis, reporting, and dissemination of information of the Internet, if such an activity is undertaken. How the subjects are treated and how confidential information is safeguarded are all guided by business ethics. There are business journals such as the journal of business Ethics and the Business Ethics Quarterly that are mainly devoted to the issue of ethics in business. The American Psychological Association has established certain guideline for conducting research, to ensure that organizational research is conducted in an ethical manner and the interests of all concerned are safeguarded.