| Apr. 18, 2012 |
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The Japanese Society of Cultural Anthropology (JASCA) has adopted the following set of Ethical Guidelines for Members of JASCA to provide basic ethical principles and a framework for Members in the conduct of cultural anthropological research and education as well as in the management of the Society. Individual JASCA Members should keep the guidelines below in mind and are required to fully recognize and follow the guidelines, to respond to the trust and credit offered by the wider society, and to contribute to the progress of our research and study in cultural anthropology. Fieldwork and research in cultural anthropology, like all other academic practices, are based on, and supported by, the general trust and understanding of the wider society covering the people among whom anthropologists conduct fieldwork as well as the society to which researchers themselves belong. Therefore, we should always be conscious of the public character, public benefit, and social responsibility of our academic practices, and do our utmost in the pursuit of knowledge to contribute academic fruits to the peace and welfare of the human society. Following this set of guidelines, we also have a responsibility to be fully aware of potential ethical problems and to alert researchers and students in cultural anthropology to issues that raise ethical concerns in educational and instructional settings as well. This set of guidelines strongly encourages Members of JASCA to be sensitive enough to issues of ethical concern in research and education with a view to the further advancement of cultural anthropology in terms of quality and creativity. [Common Ethical Concerns as Global Citizens] Article 1 Respecting Human Rights and Other Rights We should always respect human rights in any place and in any case. Care should be taken not to infringe upon the rights to privacy, the rights to portraits, intellectual property rights, copyrights, and the like. Article 2 Prohibition of Discrimination We should be, without any discrimination, fair to everyone, regardless of age, sex and gender, sexual orientation, creed, faith, handicap, ethnic background, physical characteristics, nationality, descent, and the like. Article 3 Prohibition of Harassment We should refrain from any act or attitude which can be regarded as harassment in any social context. [Ethical Concerns With and Responsibilities Towards the Research Field and People] Article 4 Accountability in Conducting Research We should keep in mind that researchers in cultural anthropology are always accountable to the research field and people for all things related to the research including its objective and methods used as well as the possible way of publication of research findings. Article 5 Protecting the People Studied against Harmful Effects and Disadvantages We should endeavor by every means to avoid imperiling the life, safety and property of the people studied through our research and try our utmost to protect them against direct or indirect harmful or disadvantageous effects of our research. Article 6 Contribution of Research Fruits to the Research Field We should endeavor to contribute our research findings and fruits to the wider society, which is represented first and foremost by the research field and people, so that accessibility to and availability of the findings and fruits might be guaranteed to the people concerned. [Ethical Concerns With and Responsibilities Towards Colleagues of the Discipline] Article 7 Prohibition of Plagiarism, Lifting, and Faking in Research Plagiarizing or lifting from others and the faking of data in research are strictly prohibited. Article 8 Ethical Concerns with Collaborative and Team Research and Clarification of Authorship and Copyright in Research Findings In cases where we conduct research with collaborating researchers or cooperators, an unambiguous consensus should be reached in advance in relation to matters such as respective roles, responsibilities, authorship and copyright in publication of research findings and so on. Article 9 Ensuring Mutual Criticism and Mutual Verification among Colleagues Care should be taken to ensure that we always have an open academic attitude towards mutual criticism and mutual verification. We should refrain from disturbing or obstructing other colleagues' ongoing research. [Ethical Concerns With and Responsibilities Towards Employers, Sponsors and Funders] Article 10 Honest and Proper Report of Our Qualifications and Expertise We should honestly and properly communicate our professional qualifications and expertise to employers, sponsors and funders, in our research project. Article 11 Proper Use and Management of Research Fund We should properly use and manage the research fund offered by employers, sponsors and funders. Article 12 Proper Contract Must Follow the Guidelines We should take care not to make such a contract or pledge as will infringe these Ethical Guidelines with employers, sponsors and funders. Supplement 1 The above set of Ethical Guidelines shall be valid on and after June 1, 2008. |
