Ethical issues in social work research and strategies for an ethically responsible research

Abstract

Introduction. Research is a source of knowledge in social work (hereafter named SW), conditioned, in its ethical dimension, by the socio-political context, SW values, principles and ethics and the peculiarities of SW research (hereafter named SWR). This work aims to contribute to the reflection on SWR practices, identifying key ethical issues that arise in the process of SWR and strategies to ensure ethically responsible research. Material and Methods. The work has been conducted using the literature review and the transfer of the research experience of the author. Results. After the identification of ethical issues that arise in the research process, the paper specifies strategies to ensure that SWR is ethically responsible: (1) in the early stages of the investigation (initial formulation of research questions, protection and selection of participants, informed consent, institutional review of projects), (2) inits design and methodology (use of deception, confidentiality and privacy, conflicts of interest and dual relationships), (3) in the results of research (reporting results, dissemination of results, recognition of contributions). Discussion and conclusions. Ethical issues arise in SWR in the interaction with the ethicsof social science research, and the mission, ethics and values of​​ SW. Both offer general guidelines for research behavior, but there are specific issues that require specific strategies to address at different times of the research process.