Research Ethics in Political Science: A Comprehensive Guide for Students

Question 1

Which of the following is NOT a fundamental principle of research ethics?

Accepted Answer

Convenience

Answer

Respect for persons

Answer

Beneficence

Answer

Justice

Question 2

Which of these is a key principle of research ethics?

Accepted Answer

Participants must give informed consent before taking part in research.

Answer

Researchers should put their own interests before those of participants.

Answer

Researchers can lie to participants if they think it will get them better data.

Answer

Researchers can share participants' personal information without limits.

Question 3

The Belmont Report is a set of ethical principles that was developed in:

Accepted Answer

The United States

Answer

The United Kingdom

Answer

The European Union

Answer

The United Nations

Question 4

How does confidentiality contribute to safeguarding human subjects in political research?

Accepted Answer

Both A and B.

Answer

It protects participants' identities and personal information.

Answer

It ensures that sensitive data is securely stored and handled.

Answer

It fosters trust and rapport between researchers and participants.

Question 5

Which of the following is NOT a potential benefit of using deception in political research?

Accepted Answer

Adhering to ethical research principles

Answer

Reducing social desirability bias

Answer

Increasing participant engagement

Answer

Providing more accurate data

Question 6

Which fundamental ethical principle guides political research, prioritizing the inherent value and respect for all individuals involved?

Accepted Answer

Respect for human dignity

Answer

Objectivity

Answer

Political neutrality

Answer

Efficiency

Question 7

The Belmont Report established ethical guidelines primarily for:

Accepted Answer

Conducting research involving human subjects

Answer

Ensuring data confidentiality and protection

Answer

Designing and implementing research methodologies

Answer

Obtaining informed consent from participants

Question 8

Informed consent in research requires that participants:

Accepted Answer

Must satisfy all of the above conditions

Answer

Are fully informed about the research purpose and procedures

Answer

Have the right to withdraw from the study at any point

Answer

Are fairly compensated for their participation

Question 9

The ethical principle of beneficence emphasizes the researcher's responsibility to:

Accepted Answer

Maximize benefits and minimize potential harms to participants

Answer

Respect the privacy and confidentiality of participants' data

Answer

Provide clear and accurate information about the research

Answer

Ensure fair treatment of all participants

Question 10

Why do political science researchers receive ethics training?

Accepted Answer

To safeguard the rights and well-being of research participants

Answer

To avoid legal consequences

Answer

To guarantee the accuracy and reliability of their research findings

Question 11

Which of the following is a fundamental ethical principle in political research, emphasizing the autonomy and decision-making capacity of participants?

Accepted Answer

Respect for autonomy

Answer

Non-maleficence

Answer

Beneficence

Answer

Justice

Question 12

Informed consent in political research is crucial because it ensures that:

Accepted Answer

Participants have a clear understanding of the purpose, procedures, and potential risks and benefits of the research.

Answer

Researchers have the legal authority to use the data for any purpose.

Answer

The quality of research findings is guaranteed.

Answer

Ethics committees automatically approve research proposals based on informed consent.

Question 13

Ethical political research is characterized by all of the following EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

Unfair or biased research designs that could compromise objectivity

Answer

Transparency and honesty in data collection and analysis

Answer

Respect for the confidentiality and privacy of participants

Answer

Compliance with established ethical guidelines and regulations

Question 14

The primary function of an ethics committee in political research is to:

Accepted Answer

Provide independent evaluation of research proposals to ensure ethical compliance

Answer

Enforce ethical guidelines and regulations on researchers

Answer

Conduct research on behalf of researchers

Answer

Publish and disseminate research findings

Question 15

Which of the following is NOT an ethical research practice?

Accepted Answer

Maintaining confidentiality only if requested by participants

Answer

Voluntary participation

Answer

Obtaining informed consent

Answer

Minimizing potential harm to participants

Question 16

Which of the following is NOT a method for maintaining confidentiality in political research?

Accepted Answer

Recording participants' names and contact information

Answer

Anonymising data

Answer

Using pseudonyms

Answer

Obtaining explicit consent for data use

Question 17

Which of the following is NOT a consequence of breaching ethical guidelines in political research?

Accepted Answer

Enhanced research quality

Answer

Harm to participants

Answer

Loss of reputation and credibility

Answer

Legal consequences

Question 18

When conducting political research with vulnerable populations, which factors should researchers prioritize?

Accepted Answer

Balancing power dynamics

Accepted Answer

Obtaining informed consent

Accepted Answer

Maintaining participant anonymity

Accepted Answer

Preserving data confidentiality

Question 19

Which criticism of informed consent in research is considered the most significant?

Accepted Answer

Informed consent can be challenging to obtain in certain cultural contexts.

Answer

Informed consent is excessively time-consuming to acquire.

Answer

Informed consent is ineffective in preventing coercion.

Answer

Informed consent is unnecessary for low-risk research.

Question 20

The primary purpose of obtaining informed consent from individuals involved in political research is to:

Accepted Answer

Ensure they are fully aware of the purpose, methods, and potential risks and benefits of their participation.

Answer

Obtain their legal approval for the use of their data.

Answer

Secure their commitment to completing the study.

Answer

Protect the researcher from any potential legal consequences.

Question 21

Which of the following is NOT a potential risk associated with participation in political research?

Accepted Answer

Gaining a greater understanding of oneself and society.

Answer

Experiencing psychological discomfort or distress.

Answer

Facing social isolation or judgment from others.

Answer

Incurring financial expenses.

Question 22

Intentional bias in research differs from unintentional bias primarily in that:

Accepted Answer

Intentional bias is consciously introduced by the researcher, while unintentional bias is not.

Answer

Intentional bias is more prevalent in qualitative research, while unintentional bias is more common in quantitative research.

Answer

Intentional bias is easier to detect and correct than unintentional bias.

Answer

There is no meaningful distinction between intentional and unintentional bias.

Question 23

Ethical guidelines for political research prioritize the protection of:

Accepted Answer

Human participants

Answer

Political institutions

Question 24

When can researchers ethically deceive participants in political research?

Accepted Answer

Only when the potential benefits outweigh the risks and there is no alternative.

Answer

Only when there is no alternative

Question 25

How does confidentiality protect participants in political research?

Accepted Answer

It prevents their personal information from being disclosed without their consent.

Answer

It allows them to withdraw from the study at any time

Question 26

How can researchers ethically balance the need for confidentiality with the public's right to know?

Accepted Answer

By anonymizing data, reporting only aggregate results, and obtaining consent for public disclosure

Answer

By obtaining explicit consent from participants to publicly share their information

Question 27

What is the primary function of ethical review boards (ERBs) in political research?

Accepted Answer

Encompassing all of the above

Answer

Granting approval or rejecting proposed research endeavors

Answer

Monitoring the implementation of ongoing research projects

Answer

Providing ethical guidance to researchers

Question 28

When using social media data for political research, which ethical concern is particularly relevant?

Accepted Answer

Potential violations of privacy

Answer

Unrepresentative samples

Answer

Fabricated data

Answer

Difficulties in acquiring informed consent

Question 29

What are the core elements that make up a research ethics code?

Accepted Answer

A combination of principles, guidelines, and procedures

Answer

Strictly enforced rules and regulations

Answer

Recommended best practices

Answer

Guidelines focused solely on data collection methods

Question 30

In research ethics, which principle ensures participants fully comprehend and willingly consent to partake before data collection commences?

Accepted Answer

Autonomy

Answer

Beneficence

Answer

Justice

Answer

Confidentiality

Question 31

The ethical principle of confidentiality requires researchers to:

Accepted Answer

Keep all participant information strictly private.

Answer

Obtain written consent from participants before using their data.

Answer

Protect participants from any potential physical or psychological harm.

Answer

Ensure that participants are fully informed about the research study.

Question 32

The Belmont Report is a seminal document in research ethics that enshrined the principles of:

Accepted Answer

Respect for persons, beneficence, and justice.

Answer

Confidentiality, transparency, and objectivity.

Answer

Informed consent, autonomy, and non-maleficence.

Answer

Validity, reliability, and generalizability.

Question 33

The Data Protection Act (2018) is a UK law that primarily regulates:

Accepted Answer

The collection, use, and storage of personal data.

Answer

The ethical conduct of political research.

Answer

The confidentiality of research findings.

Answer

The rights of research participants.

Question 34

The process of anonymizing data involves:

Accepted Answer

Removing all personal identifiers from the data to protect confidentiality.

Answer

Storing data in a highly secure location.

Answer

Obtaining explicit consent from participants before using their data.

Answer

Using pseudonyms instead of real names.

Question 35

What is the primary purpose of obtaining informed consent from research participants?

Accepted Answer

To ensure that participants fully understand the potential risks and benefits of the study.

Answer

To protect researchers from legal liability.

Answer

To gain participants' permission to use their data.

Answer

To demonstrate the ethical nature of the research.

Question 36

Which of the following research methods raises particular ethical concerns due to its potential for covert observation?

Accepted Answer

Participant observation

Answer

Online surveys

Answer

Content analysis

Answer

Experimental studies

Question 37

A researcher wants to study the impact of a new government policy on a specific ethnic group. What ethical consideration is most important in this scenario?

Accepted Answer

Ensuring the research does not perpetuate harmful stereotypes about the ethnic group.

Answer

Obtaining informed consent from the research participants.

Answer

Ensuring the research findings are published in a timely manner.

Answer

Maintaining confidentiality of the collected data.

Question 38

Which of the following is NOT a core principle of the UK Data Protection Act 2018?

Accepted Answer

Data can be used without consent if it is in the public interest.

Answer

Data must be used lawfully, fairly and transparently.

Answer

Data must be collected for specified, explicit and legitimate purposes.

Answer

Data must be accurate and kept up to date.

Question 39

A researcher promises anonymity to participants in a study about political beliefs. During data analysis, they realize one participant's identity is easily identifiable. What should the researcher prioritize?

Accepted Answer

Protecting the participant's anonymity, even if it means excluding their data from the analysis.

Answer

Using the data but altering it slightly to make it less identifiable.

Answer

Contacting the participant and asking for their consent to use their identifiable data.

Answer

Reporting the identifiable data to the ethics committee for guidance.

Question 40

What is the primary purpose of obtaining informed consent from research participants?

Accepted Answer

To ensure participants understand the risks and benefits of participating in the research before they agree.

Answer

To guarantee that the research findings will be published.

Answer

To ensure the research is conducted in a way that is fair and unbiased.

Answer

To protect the researcher from legal action by participants.

Question 41

Which of these situations presents a potential conflict of interest in political research?

Accepted Answer

A researcher studying government funding of NGOs while receiving funding from one of the NGOs being studied.

Answer

A researcher conducting interviews using a pre-approved list of questions.

Answer

A researcher sharing their research findings with a government agency.

Answer

A researcher analyzing data from a previous study that was conducted by another researcher.

Question 42

What is the main ethical concern with using data from social media platforms for research without users' explicit consent?

Accepted Answer

It violates users' privacy as they may not be aware their data is being used for research.

Answer

The data on social media is often unreliable and inaccurate.

Answer

It can be difficult to obtain informed consent from social media users.

Answer

Social media companies can manipulate data to influence research outcomes.

Question 43

A researcher discovers their findings contradict their initial hypothesis. What is the most ethical course of action?

Accepted Answer

Report the findings accurately and discuss the reasons for the discrepancy.

Answer

Discard the findings and collect new data that supports the hypothesis.

Answer

Seek the advice of a mentor or colleague before reporting the findings.

Answer

Manipulate the data slightly to align with the expected outcome.

Question 44

Which of the following is an example of ethical data management in qualitative research?

Accepted Answer

Anonymizing interview transcripts by removing identifying information.

Answer

Using pseudonyms to identify participants in research reports.

Answer

Storing data on a personal computer without password protection.

Answer

Sharing raw data with other researchers without participants' consent.

Question 45

What is the role of an ethics committee in research?

Accepted Answer

To review research proposals and ensure they meet ethical guidelines.

Answer

To provide funding for research projects that align with ethical principles.

Answer

To collect data and analyze research findings for potential ethical issues.

Answer

To conduct research on ethical issues related to political science.