A Process for Developing the Statement of Internet Research Ethics based on Action Research Method

Research ethics in cyberspace or Internet research ethics (IRE) is a subset of applied ethics that aims to study, introduce, and apply ethical codes for guiding research activities in cyberspace. The compilation of the ethical statement is based on two methods of documentary research and action research. The action research process is implemented in four stages: 1) diagnosis, 2) action plan, 3) action, and 4) action evaluation. The diagnosis stage of ethical issues for drafting ethical codes is based on documentary method. In this framework, by collecting numerous and reliable ethical charters and statements, the most important ethical issues in Internet researches are extracted, and ethical codes are formulated and adjusted as a draft of statement of Internet research ethics. According to the next stages of action research, the draft is critically evaluated by a technical teamwork and sent to the relevant organization for action stage.

In this article, introducing a step-by-step process for development of Internet Research Ethics, and suggestion of ethical codes for guiding and organizing research activities of researchers in cyberspace is the purpose of the codification of ethical statement. The statement of the Internet Research Ethics is prepared as a complement to the Charter and Principles of Research Ethics of the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology; Along with 9 chapters and 15 articles in the framework of the Charter and Principles of Research Ethics.