Ethical Practice in Evaluations

This chapter describes the ethical issues that relate to evaluating products with children. The ethical principles for evaluation that are discussed in the chapter are respect for other people, beneficence and nonmaleficence, and justice. The chapter argues that ethical decisions are subjective, and even experienced evaluators are likely to disagree in some circumstances about whether a proposed action is ethical. One reason for some of the disagreement is that individuals will have different approaches to ethical issues involving children based on their own background, education, and views about children and childhood. The three different approaches are the utilitarian view, the virtue-based approach, and the rights-based approach. Most countries have laws that regulate some of the relevant decisions, such as health and safety, child protection, human rights, and data protection legislation.