Learn about ethics. Research online and in law books about ethics. What is an ethic? What laws define ethics? Having a basic understanding will help you to understand how an ethic can be violated.
Categorize your ethics violations. Ethics are categorized into a range of areas, from scientific ethics to human service ethics. List the ethic categories and put each violation in the correct area. Grouping the ethics will save you valuable research time.
Talk to a lawyer. Ask her to explain ethics violations in her own words. This will be easier to understand than reading it from a law book. Get her to explain how perceptions of ethic violations have changed over time and how violations differ between countries. Many lawyers will talk to you for free if you are a student doing research. Remember to be courteous and grateful for the time they have spent with you.
Read about specific cases. Go to a library with a law section, or ask a law firm if you can use their books. Use the index to find specific cases about ethic violations. Find examples of your different categories of ethic violations. Try and understand the reason for each court case decision. Remember to make notes so you can refer back to what you have learned.
Summarize your findings. Write your findings and ideas down in a report so that you remember what you have learned and can refer to the information again in the future.