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Unit-4: Ethical Issues in Social Research

notes

Notes spahr and swenson have considered the ability to keep the exactness of facts, a
very important quality of researchers. this quality depends on statistical ability.

4. Clarity of Thinking: A scholar should be intelligent and thoughtful. He should have the
ability to understand complex situations and to present his views clearly. Without this he
cannot critically analyze facts and cannot even present his own views related to the problems
and solutions in his report. the clarity of views comes after intense study of the subject.
5. logical ability: During the course of social research one has to get information from people
of different opinions and mental conditions. it is important for a scholar to have strong
logical ability so that he can take out conclusions from various information’s. sometimes the
respondents ask difficult questions from a researcher. If he is not able to answer logically and
skillfully he has to face difficult situation and cannot collect the facts properly.
6. intellectual honesty: A researcher needs to have intellectual honesty because the incidents he
researches generally he himself is a part of it, so whatever opinion he expresses or whatever
he concludes his own individual feelings, values or ideas almost always influence him. In this
situation his research cannot be devoid of influence of he does not have intellectual honesty.
otherwise he will see only those incidents which are according to his own emotions and would
express views which are liked by most people. But if he has intellectual honesty he will not
hesitate presenting the realities even if he has to go against the flow and will not hesitate in
giving his individual opinion. intellectual honesty removes the fear of being defame or the
fear of cast and community and he can keep himself away from manipulating the facts.

4.3 Behavioural Qualities

Apart from intellectual and physical abilities a successful scholar needs to have behavioural qualities
so that he can contact people instill trust in them and attract them towards the goal of his research.
it is important that his behaviour and attitude is attractive and effective. following are the qualities
that should be there in him:
1. Refined Manners: etiquettes are the most important qualities in the behaviour of scholar.
A refined personality can easily attract people and he can successfully collect information
and facts. He should understand this and always be ready to behave in a refined manner.
for example in a rural society a scholar should get rid of pompous and formal behaviour
and be very friendly and polite manner.
2. Adaptability of Behaviour: During the research work a scholar has to contact people of
different interests, opinions and occupations and behaving in a similar manner to everybody
will not impress all. A serious person will not like childish behavior and inquisitive person
will not appreciate serious behavior but a scholar has to get information from both. His
behavior should be adaptable to mould himself so that according to the requirement he can
deal with different type of people, impress them and collect facts from them.

Did You Know? sometimes it happens that during answering a question a respondent starts
gossiping, at this time a scholar has to behave intelligently without hurting
the person and take out the desired information.

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