The most pressing ethical issues facing special education today are not new. While the particular examples of the mistreatment of children in the research studies from this module’s Additional Resources occurred in the past, they are no less relevant today. As a special education professional, you may determine that the reasons for the abuse exist now, just as they did when the studies were conducted. As a leader in the field of special education, it is critical to be sensitive to the pressures and challenges facing those conducting scientific investigations. Acute awareness of these challenges will support you to act effectively and ethically in your own practice and when scrutinizing the practices of others.
In this Discussion, you will consider specific examples of ethical issues in special education research. You will also examine the relationship between seeking to conduct a valid study and weighing the cost relative to impacts on study participants.
