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
25 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.