Is research with and on students ethically defensible?

Under pressure to conduct research and write or publish, university tutors and teachers who are pursuing higher degrees frequently seek participants among their own students. Invariably the letter of the law is observed:participation is voluntary and consent properly informed. This paper, however, explores the aspects of the power relationship between students and their teachers that belie the spirit of ethical guidelines. The right to refuse may be compromised by the desire to cooperate with a tutor who in due time may be called on as a referee. While the possibility of psychological pressures is systematically rehearsed in the literature and guidance respecting consensual relationships between tutors and students, this paper prompts a parallel discussion with regard to the context of research in education.