1. The Ethics of Communication Research

2. Conducting Research Ethically Participation must be voluntary Participation must be voluntary Participants must be protected from undue harm Participants must be protected from undue harm Informed consent of participants means they have a complete understanding of possible risks involved in the study Informed consent of participants means they have a complete understanding of possible risks involved in the study The participants’ identity must be protected The participants’ identity must be protected –Anonymity –Confidentiality Deception of participants must be fully justified and be followed with adequate debriefing Deception of participants must be fully justified and be followed with adequate debriefing

3. Analyzing and Reporting Research Ethically Paradigmatic assumptions of researchers will effect the examination of the objective stance of the researcher and the role of social change as ethical guidelines. Paradigmatic assumptions of researchers will effect the examination of the objective stance of the researcher and the role of social change as ethical guidelines. When participants are not aggregated, the principle of camouflaged identity should be used to protect individuals and organizations. When participants are not aggregated, the principle of camouflaged identity should be used to protect individuals and organizations. The researcher should remain true to the data and to describing the research process. The researcher should remain true to the data and to describing the research process. Researchers should avoid plagiarism. Researchers should avoid plagiarism.

4. The Institutional Review Board (IRB) The IRB is panel that reviews research proposals to guarantee the protection of participants’ rights and interests. The IRB is panel that reviews research proposals to guarantee the protection of participants’ rights and interests. Protecting the participants from unnecessary risks is the principle task of the IRB. Protecting the participants from unnecessary risks is the principle task of the IRB. A proposal to the IRB typically includes the objectives of the study, the population and sample, the nature of informed consent, the procedures, the protection of participants’ identity, and an analysis of risks and benefits of the study. A proposal to the IRB typically includes the objectives of the study, the population and sample, the nature of informed consent, the procedures, the protection of participants’ identity, and an analysis of risks and benefits of the study.