There are specific bodies in different sectors responsible for permitting research to be conducted. Suppose you want to gather data from highly regulated sectors like health or banking. Then you can consult employees in the specific industry to find out the body responsible for giving such permissions. Alternatively, you can visit the headquarters or the ministries ( if the state manages the sector) to inquire about the process you need to undergo to gather data from the organization. For instance, if you want to collect data from a private bank, then you can visit the headquarters of that bank with a letter seeking permission with a sample of the questionnaire you intend to administer. The head of the human resources or the director of research and development will go through after which you will either be given permission or decline permission. Ethical clearance is essential whether an individual or organization is responsible for the data collection or conducting research.

Если вы не может опираться на готовое решение из профессионального кодекса этики, вашим ориентиром может быть защита вас как профессионала от завышенных требований аудитории (государства). Кроме этого, защита аудитории, потребителей от возможных злоупотреблений с вашей стороны.

Hi Ontiretse - I'm also not sure how you could get clearance unless you are at an institution and go through a formal procedure like an ethics committee or alternatively you somehow get approval of some kind from the organization you are studying. But this doesn't stop you following the guidelines of a relevant association like maybe in my context the British Sociological Association https://www.britsoc.co.uk/media/24310/bsa_statement_of_ethical_practice.pdf. More important than following the guidelines is an appreciation of the underlying principles of what it is to carry out research ethically. Typically these are anchored in two phrases: (i) do no harm; (ii) informed consent. On (i) there is a question of judgement about what harm means exactly - it doesn't mean you can't ask someone a question that might make them feel uncomfortable for example (provided there is a reason for doing that). On (ii) sometimes research is covert but this is quite rare and requires previous expertise usually.

Thank you Kevin for your valuable insights. This is helpful

Hi Ontiretse

It is based on the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Hello Sir,

If you are conducting a research that would involve experimentation, regardless if funded or not, and be it on animals or humans, appropriate clearances are needed say from your Science & Technology Commission. I do believe they have their respective Ethics Boards.

As such, there are no ethical authorizations, if there are rules and criteria that define your own research. Now, according to your research object, you may find different boarding rules. Research on history or economics is not the same as on genetics, biotechnology or human rights.