Which of the following is NOT an ethical consideration in business research?

Data manipulation is not considered an ethical practice in business research; rather, it represents a significant ethical violation. Ethical considerations in business research typically include principles such as informed consent, which ensures that participants are adequately informed about the nature of the research and agree to partake in it willingly. Confidentiality addresses the obligation to protect the privacy of participants and the sensitive information they provide during the research process. Data integrity, another ethical consideration, refers to the accuracy and reliability of the data collected and reported.

In contrast, data manipulation implies altering, fabricating, or misrepresenting data for deceptive purposes, which undermines the validity of research findings and violates ethical standards. Thus, it stands apart as a practice that is not aligned with ethical considerations in business research, highlighting the importance of maintaining integrity and honesty in research methodologies.