Research ethics
Encyclopedia
Research ethics involves the application of fundamental ethical principles to a variety of topics involving scientific research. These include the design and implementation of research involving human experimentation
, animal experimentation, various aspects of academic scandal, including scientific misconduct
(such as fraud, fabrication of data
and plagiarism
), whistleblowing; regulation of research, etc. Research ethics is most developed as a concept in medical research. The key agreement here is the 1974 Declaration of Helsinki
. The Nuremberg Code
is a former agreement, but with many still important notes. Research in the social sciences
presents a different set of issues than those in medical research.
The scientific research enterprise is built on a foundation of trust. Scientists trust that the results reported by others are valid. Society trusts that the results of research reflect an honest attempt by scientists to describe the world accurately and without bias. But this trust will endure only if the scientific community devotes itself to exemplifying and transmitting the values associated with ethical scientific conduct.
There are many ethical issues to be taken into serious consideration for research. Sociologists need to be aware of having the responsibility to secure the actual permission and interests of all those involved in the study. They should not misuse any of the information discovered, and there should be a certain moral responsibility maintained towards the participants. There is a duty to protect the rights of people in the study as well as their privacy and sensitivity. The confidentiality of those involved in the observation must be carried out, keeping their anonymity and privacy secure. As pointed out in the BSA for Sociology, all of these ethics must be honoured unless there are other overriding reasons to do so - for example, any illegal or terrorist activity.
Research ethics in a medical context is dominated by principlism
, an approach that has been criticised as being decontextualised.
Human experimentation
Human subject research includes experiments and observational studies. Human subjects are commonly participants in research on basic biology, clinical medicine, nursing, psychology, and all other social sciences. Humans have been participants in research since the earliest studies...
, animal experimentation, various aspects of academic scandal, including scientific misconduct
Scientific misconduct
Scientific misconduct is the violation of the standard codes of scholarly conduct and ethical behavior in professional scientific research. A Lancet review on Handling of Scientific Misconduct in Scandinavian countries provides the following sample definitions: *Danish definition: "Intention or...
(such as fraud, fabrication of data
Fabrication (science)
Fabrication, in the context of scientific inquiry and academic research, refers to the act of intentionally falsifying research results, such as reported in a journal article. Fabrication is considered a form of scientific misconduct, and is regarded as highly unethical...
and plagiarism
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is defined in dictionaries as the "wrongful appropriation," "close imitation," or "purloining and publication" of another author's "language, thoughts, ideas, or expressions," and the representation of them as one's own original work, but the notion remains problematic with nebulous...
), whistleblowing; regulation of research, etc. Research ethics is most developed as a concept in medical research. The key agreement here is the 1974 Declaration of Helsinki
Declaration of Helsinki
The Declaration of Helsinki is a set of ethical principles regarding human experimentation developed for the medical community by the World Medical Association . It is widely regarded as the cornerstone document of human research ethics...
. The Nuremberg Code
Nuremberg Code
The Nuremberg Code is a set of research ethics principles for human experimentation set as a result of the Subsequent Nuremberg Trials at the end of the Second World War.-Background:...
is a former agreement, but with many still important notes. Research in the social sciences
Ethical research in social science
Ethical research becomes extremely important when dealing with human subjects. Research is the systematic process of collecting and analyzing information in order to increase our understanding of the phenomenon about which we are concerned or interested and communicating what we discovered to the...
presents a different set of issues than those in medical research.
The scientific research enterprise is built on a foundation of trust. Scientists trust that the results reported by others are valid. Society trusts that the results of research reflect an honest attempt by scientists to describe the world accurately and without bias. But this trust will endure only if the scientific community devotes itself to exemplifying and transmitting the values associated with ethical scientific conduct.
There are many ethical issues to be taken into serious consideration for research. Sociologists need to be aware of having the responsibility to secure the actual permission and interests of all those involved in the study. They should not misuse any of the information discovered, and there should be a certain moral responsibility maintained towards the participants. There is a duty to protect the rights of people in the study as well as their privacy and sensitivity. The confidentiality of those involved in the observation must be carried out, keeping their anonymity and privacy secure. As pointed out in the BSA for Sociology, all of these ethics must be honoured unless there are other overriding reasons to do so - for example, any illegal or terrorist activity.
Research ethics in a medical context is dominated by principlism
Principlism
Principlism is a system of ethics based on the four moral principles of:1. Autonomy--free-will or agency,2. Beneficence--to do good,3. Nonmaleficence--not to harm, and4...
, an approach that has been criticised as being decontextualised.
Key issues
In terms of research publications, a number of key issues include and are not restricted to:- Honesty. Honesty and integrity is a duty of each author and person, expert-reviewer and member of journal editorial boards.
- Review process. The peer-review process contributes to the quality control and it is an essential step to ascertain the standing and originality of the research.
- Ethical standards. Recent journal editorials presented some experience of unscrupulous activities.
- Authorship. Who may claim a right to authorship? In which order should the authors be listed?
External links
- TRREE-for Africa provides a multilingual, free access and free training program on research ethics and regulation with a focus on Sub-Saharian African countries.
- Research Ethics Training Curriculum has been prepared, by Family Health InternationalFamily Health InternationalFamily Health International is a public health and development organization dedicated to improving living standards of the world's most vulnerable people. Family Health International has 2,500 staff conducting research and implementing programs in fifty-five countries...
(FHI), with a focus on human experimentationHuman experimentationHuman subject research includes experiments and observational studies. Human subjects are commonly participants in research on basic biology, clinical medicine, nursing, psychology, and all other social sciences. Humans have been participants in research since the earliest studies...
. - Research Ethics section of the SHiPS (Sociology, History and Philosophy of Science) website provides some useful resources, including case studies relevant to scientific misconductScientific misconductScientific misconduct is the violation of the standard codes of scholarly conduct and ethical behavior in professional scientific research. A Lancet review on Handling of Scientific Misconduct in Scandinavian countries provides the following sample definitions: *Danish definition: "Intention or...
- Scientists for Global Responsibility (UK)
- INES Global
- The Tri-Council Policy Statement (Canada)
- UNESCO - Ethics of Science and Technology
- Ethical Practice: Principles and Guidelines for Research with Vulnerable Individuals and Families An ethical protocol for social science research developed by the Centre for Children and Families in the Justice System
- The Hinxton Group: An International Consortium on Stem Cells, Ethics & Law
- Johns Hopkins Program in Research Ethics
- Bibliography of peer-reviewed journal articles on the history of the use of deception in research, as well as on the histories of experimental ethics.
- http://icmr.nic.in/ethical.pdf
- http://www.researchethics.ca ResearchEthics.ca
- http://www.researchethicsblog.com The Research Ethics Blog
- http://www.asanet.org/cs/root/leftnav/ethics/cope_policies_and_procedures