Ethical issues with social impact measurement

Social impact measurement has received increasing attention, with organisations under pressure to evidence outcomes and impact of activities (specifically, activities aligned with SDGs). Obtaining evidence requires interaction with beneficiaries and stakeholders to understand the impact of activities on their lives, as well as information gathered from big data. This chapter will identify how the processes for collecting data (to measure social impact) can result in ethical violations that directly impact individuals and society. It will explore the decision processes in obtaining data which is essential in promoting research that is underpinned by strong ethical principles. The chapter will end with the provision of an ethical framework for measuring social impact [Relevant SDGs: SDG16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions; SDG17: Partnerships for the Goals].