Ethics are defined as what?

Ethics are defined as what?

• A. Norms for behavior that distinguish between what is and what is not acceptable
• B. Statistical methods
• C. Historical records
• D. Data types

Answer: (A)

Ethics are norms for behavior that distinguish between what is and is not acceptable. They are prescriptive standards based on shared moral principles and values, guiding decisions about what ought to be done in different situations. This goes beyond simply describing what people do or listing procedures; ethics tell you how you should act when faced with tough choices, such as ensuring honesty, respecting others, avoiding harm, and being fair. In professional contexts like research and evaluation, ethical norms shape how you obtain consent, protect confidentiality, report results truthfully, and manage conflicts of interest. The other options describe tools or sources of information—statistical methods, historical records, and data types—not judgments about right or wrong, so they do not define ethics.

Ethics are norms for behavior that distinguish between what is and is not acceptable. They are prescriptive standards based on shared moral principles and values, guiding decisions about what ought to be done in different situations. This goes beyond simply describing what people do or listing procedures; ethics tell you how you should act when faced with tough choices, such as ensuring honesty, respecting others, avoiding harm, and being fair. In professional contexts like research and evaluation, ethical norms shape how you obtain consent, protect confidentiality, report results truthfully, and manage conflicts of interest. The other options describe tools or sources of information—statistical methods, historical records, and data types—not judgments about right or wrong, so they do not define ethics.