Doing the Right Thing: Ethical Cyberspace Research

With increased use of the Internet and other computer-based communications resources, researchers have begun examining interactions in, and uses of, ''cyberspace.'' In considering ways to conduct ethical cyberspace research, some have looked to guidelines in their own disciplines. A potentially useful ethics statement for social science researchers to consider is that of the Association of Computing Machinery. Keeping in mind some of the ACM guidelines, as well as the similarities and differences between cyberspace and other communications media, may help researchers to be aware of their ethical responsibilities in conducting their research. The ACM guidelines, especially in consideration with other communications media, help remind researchers of the technological environment within which the social interactions being studied take place.