Ethical Engineering: Definitions, Theories and Techniques - Ethical Engineering for International Development and Environmental Sustainability - page 53

Information supplied to researchers can be (1) confi dential, (2) anonymous, (3)
confi dential and anonymous or (4) non-confi dential and non-anonymous.
Confi dentiality means that information cannot be passed on, other than to a
named group of people, without the permission of the owner of the information. In
the case of a totally confi dential interview, the researcher agrees not to pass on the
information collected to anyone else. Information is more commonly confi dential to
a particular group, e.g. a research team, which means that it can be discussed within
the research team, but not more widely.
Anonymity means that information is collected and recorded without a name or
other identifying mark. This information may additionally be confi dential or
non-confi dential.
Ethical research requires that respondents, e.g. to a questionnaire or interview, are
informed of the status of the information and how it will be used, e.g. whether or not
it is confi dential and/or anonymous. Subjects need to know who the information is
confi dential to, particularly as many people are not aware that confi dentiality can be
to a group instead of to an individual. As generally interpreted, confi dentiality and
anonymity of information do not prevent the resulting statistical data or quotes being
openly published, as long as informants are informed of this when the data is col-
lected and any quotes are presented in a way that does not allow them to be identifi ed.
However, although standard good practice involves data being recorded anony-
mously, some research participants may prefer not to be anonymous and this should
always be their choice.
Ethical considerations about risk imply that:

1. One group of individuals should not be exposed to risk and another group to
which they do not belong receive the benefi ts.
2. Individuals or groups of people should not be exposed to risk without their
informed consent. This informed consent must involve a full understanding of
the situation, the extent of the risk and the likely benefi ts to themselves and/or
others.
3. There should be some correlation between the nature and extent of risks and ben-
efi ts, e.g. people should not be exposed to serious risks for minimal benefi ts.

4. Alternative approaches which avoid risks should be used wherever possible.
Saving money by using less expensive techniques is not a valid reason for expos-
ing people to risk.
5. In general experiments which expose subjects to greater risk than involved in
their normal day-to-day activities should be avoided and very signifi cant (poten-
tial) benefi ts with a high likelihood would be required to justify any such risks.

Studies should involve a variety of segmentation variables, such as gender, age
and socio-economic status. In the past, there has tended to be a male norm for
research subjects. However, an assistive device developed for young white men may
be of little use to elderly Asian women.
If the principles of the British Psychological Society and the other conditions
discussed here cannot be met, there are serious ethical issues about the particular
research or development programme going ahead. In general the ethical response