Ethical considerations during human centred overt and covert research

Abstract

During the research process, several ethical issues have to be considered in ensuring the safety of the research participants. This is especially true in the case of human centred research designs in which people, not objects are the focus of research. This article reviews several of the issues that researchers should consider before, during and after the planning, implementation and completion of the research process whether it is overt or covert research. The article also functions as a tool that researcher may use in the consideration of the ethical value of their research and research results. The article provides the reader with the opportunity to review their own research related behaviour in ensuring that their research process is ethical in nature, as well as allows for the consideration of the safety and security of the research participant, and final contributing to society as a whole.