As the tech industry matures, organizations are incorporating more user research into their product development cycles. And as research practices evolve to fit this demand, product teams face a major ethical challenge: in an age where user data is as abundant as it is personal, how do product teams balance business needs with protecting users’ safety, autonomy, and privacy?
This talk dives into the ways in which product teams, in their quest to learn about users, can violate fundamental ethical research principles. It will then provide concrete strategies researchers can use to a) recognize potential ethical violations in their research plans, b) minimize the impact of unethical decisions in the field, and c) promote ethical practices among stakeholders.
