The Ethical Dilemma in Educational Research

Abstract

There has been increased discomfort by business firms in allowing student researchers to collect data from their organizations. Most managers from the organizations feel bothered by researchers and deny them access to information instead of facilitating creating knowledge based economy through research. This paper established the ethical measures institutions of higher learning have put in place to exercise controls over research through Institutional Ethics Committees (IEC), to ensure that they offer pre-clearance to researchers and maintain a cordial relationship between academic institutions and business organizations that are interested in protecting their corporate image. The objectives were: To find out ethical factors considered by IEC before clearing researchers to collect data from organizations. To examine ethical considerations in the final research reports in institutions of higher learning. Interviews and document analysis were used to collect data. Findings revealed that submission of a research ethics proposal is not emphasized by institutions of higher learning. Many ethical issues are not considered by researchers. Institutional ethics committees should be formed to deal with research ethics.