title: Do we need a special ethics for research?
abstract: Research is subject to more stringent ethical requirements than most other human activities, and a procedure that is otherwise allowed may be forbidden in research. Hence, risk-taking is more restricted in scientific research than in most non-research contexts, and privacy is better protected in scientific questionnaires than in marketing surveys. Potential arguments for this difference are scrutinized. The case in its favour appears to be weak. A stronger case can be made in favour of a difference in the opposite direction: If perilous or otherwise problematic activities have to be performed it is usually better to perform them in a research context where they are properly evaluated so that guidance is obtained for the future. However, retreating from current ethical demands on research is not a desirable direction to go. Instead, research ethics can serve to inspire the introduction of more stringent ethical principles in other social sectors.
authors: Department of Philosophy and the History of Technology, Royal Institute of Technology, Teknikringen 78, 100 44, Stockholm, Sweden. soh@kth.se
authors: Sven Ove
authors: SO
authors: Hansson
mesh_terms: D003625:Data Collection / Q000941:ethics; D040861:Ethics, Business; D032984:Ethics, Research; D006801:Humans; D040541:Marketing / Q000941:ethics; D018907:Privacy; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012586:Science / Q000941:ethics*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires