Recommendations for conducting ethical network research

Abstract

Ethical considerations in social network studies are grounded in the general principles of human subjects’ research, including avoidance of harm, promotion of justice, equitable distribution of burdens and benefits, respect for human dignity, and protection of confidentiality. To help navigate these challenges, this article presents recommendations for conducting ethical network research, developed by a multi-disciplinary and multi-national working group. The article is divided in three main sections where there are certain recommendations identified for each one of them: data collections, use, and availability. Discovering how others addressed and solved problems can be a way for all of us to improve our capacity to stand up to the scrutiny of ethical governance bodies, while also increasing our capacity to responsibly address novel, rare, or otherwise difficult situations for which institutions provide limited guidance. We see this as a first step toward a virtuous circle, or a form of “generalized indirect reciprocity” whereby researchers share information that may be relevant for others, and benefit at the same time from the information given by other members of the social networks analysis community. Our goal is to continue to produce and promote scientifically solid, ethical social network research.