What should social workers ensure when conducting evaluations or research?

The focus of social work evaluations and research has to primarily be on the well-being and safety of participants. Ensuring that participants are protected from unwarranted harm or distress is a fundamental ethical obligation outlined in the NASW Code of Ethics. Social workers are tasked with recognizing and mitigating potential risks that could arise from their research methodologies or interaction with study subjects. This includes taking measures to prevent psychological, emotional, or physical harm, which ultimately supports the integrity of both the research and the profession itself.

When participants feel secure and protected while engaging in research, it fosters trust and promotes more genuine, reliable data collection. This ethical responsibility reinforces the importance of participant autonomy, informed consent, and the overall moral framework guiding social work practice.

Other options, while relevant in different contexts, do not align with the primary aim of preserving participant welfare. For instance, avoiding discomfort for the research team does not address participant welfare directly. Ignoring potential risks would lead to ethical breaches, and minimizing interaction may hinder the depth and quality of the engagement necessary for effective research. Thus, protecting participants from harm is crucial for ethical social work practice.