Ethical Dilemma
In the case of “Honest Harry,” an ethical quandary arises over the survey’s insufficient representativeness and possible bias, conducted by Harry Greentree for the Lackawax River Group’s funding application (Sharpe, DeVeaux, Velleman, 2014, p. 259). Harry, a member of the executive committee and proprietor of a nearby organic food establishment, administers a survey to his shop patrons to collect their views on the proposed extension of the river restoration and conservation project. This option presents a quandary, as the poll sample may not precisely mirror the sentiments of the wider population. The committee’s dependence on Harry’s clientele presupposes that they possess accurate and inclusive knowledge, a presumption that may be unfounded.
Consequences
This method has undesirable consequences, including the potential to present survey findings that may not accurately reflect the community’s sentiments regarding the river restoration project. The committee’s sole focus on polling Harry’s customers disregards the viewpoints and concerns of other community members with different beliefs (Tolmeijer et al., 2021). The lack of variety in the sample compromises the survey’s validity and reliability, potentially leading to biased or distorted conclusions (Mello & Wang, 2020). Furthermore, when convenience and cost-effectiveness are prioritized over survey integrity, it undermines the credibility of their grant application. It increases the likelihood of being seen as having a conflict of interest and engaging in unethical behavior.
Ethical Solution
To resolve this ethical predicament and safeguard the interests of all parties involved, several actions may be taken. Initially, the committee should enhance the sample’s diversity by soliciting viewpoints from a broad, varied segment of the population, rather than relying solely on Harry’s shop clientele (Tolmeijer et al., 2021). Using random sampling methods to select participants can improve the validity and reliability of survey findings, minimizing bias and ensuring the sample accurately represents the community.
Ensuring transparency in the survey methodology and data-gathering process is essential to minimize perceived bias or conflicts of interest. Furthermore, consulting with specialists in survey methodology and ethics may ensure that the survey is conducted in a manner that upholds ethical standards and adheres to the most effective approaches (Sharpe et al., 2014). To ensure the survey findings accurately reflect the community’s views and opinions on the river restoration project, the committee may use the following methods. By addressing the ethical issues outlined in “Honest Harry,” they strengthen the credibility and integrity of their grant proposal.
References
Mello, B. M. M., & Wang, C. J. (2020). Ethics and governance for digital disease surveillance. Science, 368(6494).
Sharpe, N. R., De, R. D., & Velleman, P. F. (2014). Business statistics. Pearson Education.
Tolmeijer, S., Kneer, M., Sarasua, C., Christen, M., & Bernstein, A. (2021). Implementations in machine ethics. ACM Computing Surveys, 53(6), 1–38.