Applying Ethical Standards to Research and Evaluations Involving Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Populations

Abstract

This manuscript examines the application of ethical standards to research on LGBT populations and the evaluation of programs and practices that impact them. It uses social work's Code of Ethics (National Association of Social Workers, 1996) and psychology's Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct (American Psychological Association, 1992) to examine specific ethical issues as they pertain to research involving LGBT populations. It notes that when conducting studies with these populations, researchers may need to take additional measures to protect participants from harm and to ensure the relevance and usefulness of their findings. In addition, heterosexist and genderist biases are examined as ethical issues, as is the tension between scientific objectivity and values in research involving LGBT populations.

Key Words:

• Ethics
• research
• professional codes of ethics
• research bias
• gay
• lesbian
• bisexual
• transgender