research ethics dr jennie louise discipline of philosophy [email protected]
TRANSCRIPT
Ethical Conduct of Research Conducting ethical research
An essential learning skill promoted in SACE
Responsibility of teachers and students to ensure ethical conduct in research projects
What is ethical conduct in research? What ethical issues arise in research
projects?
The Role of Researcher Research is a social practice The practice of research has defined aims
To produce knowledge and discover the truth This benefits society
Researchers have a defined role Certain privileges: e.g. regarded as experts,
status, autonomy, access to information The role therefore has corresponding duties
Ethical Duties in Research Researchers have an ethical responsibility
to conduct research in a way which can achieve the goals of research
while producing benefits and avoiding harms Analogy: playing a game - you should try to win,
but you have to play within the rules! Research which is unethically conducted
Fails to achieve the aims of the practice Causes harm which is not outweighed by the
benefits produced
Causes of Unethical Conduct Ignorance
Fail to identify or take seriously an ethical problem Not knowing appropriate practices/procedures
Perverse Incentives Pressure to get results, finish on time, get good
marks Lack of an ethical culture
No reflection on ethical implications of research ‘Following the rules’ instead of commitment to
ethical conduct
General Principles of Research Ethics
Integrity Commitment to search for truth and knowledge
Beneficence and non-maleficence Produce benefits, and avoid or minimise harms
Respect for persons Treat others as autonomous agents
Justice Ensure benefits and burdens of research are fairly
distributed
SACE Guidelines: Integrity
…but also plagiarism, interpretation of results, etc.
SACE Guidelines: Beneficence and Non-Maleficence
SACE Guidelines: Respect for Persons
SACE Guidelines: Justice
Integrity Necessary to achieve the aims of research, to
produce benefits and avoid harms Fraudulent or biased results don’t produce
knowledge, can cause harm Ensure that other motivations don’t
undermine good research For prestige, good marks, etc.
Understand the reasons for the rules and their importance
Integrity: Specific Ethical Problems
Plagiarism, failure to acknowledge sources Bad/biased methodology or study design Cherry-picking, fabrication, fraud, bias Sloppy or careless research practice Lack of transparency or accountability
Respect for Persons Treat others as autonomous agents
No treating others as mere means Potential benefits of research do not justify
failure to respect persons Failure to respect persons counts as a harm
Sensitivity to others’ beliefs and values Even if you think they’re misguided or wrong
Respect others’ free choices Even if you don’t agree with them!
Respect for Persons: Informed Consent
All participants must give fully informed and fully voluntary consent
Must understand the nature and purpose of the research
Must be informed of any risks or harms No coercion or undue influence (including
indirect pressure to participate) Free to withdraw at any time, without giving a
reason
Respect for Persons: Vulnerable Groups
Vulnerable groups Have impaired capacity to give adequate informed
consent Are unable, or less able, to protect their own
interests Require special protections and caution
Extra care given to ensuring understanding Negotiation and involvement Special thought to possible harms
Confidentiality, Privacy
All information about research subjects must be kept confidential Even if you don’t think it matters
Explicit consent of participants must be given before sharing their information
Attention and care to secure storage of data, procedures for handling information Guard against accidental violation as well as
deliberate violation (e.g. talking to friends)
Beneficence and Non-Maleficence
Produce benefits by research (less relevant here, but producing well-trained
researchers is a benefit) Avoid harms from research
Physical harms Psychological or emotional harms Social/cultural harms
Reflect on the consequences of the project and its results
Beneficence/Non-Maleficence: Specific Ethical Issues
Interview or Survey Design Could it lead to biased or distorted results? Could the questions cause distress, discomfort or
emotional harm? Controversial topics
Is the topic one which cannot realistically be researched in an unbiased, objective way?
Failure to protect confidentiality/privacy
Justice Benefits and burdens of research must be
fairly distributed Not OK to place a burden on one group in order to
produce a benefit for another Especially important for vulnerable
populations These are often‘over-researched’ Research designed to meet our needs, not theirs
Researchers as well as participants!
Case Study 1
Justin is doing his research project on wind turbine design and location. His father is a senior manager in an engineering company with contracts for wind turbine construction. Justin’s father asks an engineer on the wind turbine team to help Justin with his project. The engineer spends a great deal of time with Justin, showing him his work, explaining technical issues and helping him locate literature.
Case Study 1: Ethical Issues
Possible indirect coercive influence on the engineer to help Justin
Will the engineer be appropriately acknowledged for his assistance?
Importance of avoiding plagiarism or unattributed content when he writes up his project
Case Study 2
Molly wants to do her research project on eating disorders in teenage girls. She is planning to give a survey to her classmates and her friends outside school, which asks them (for example) whether they engage in binge-eating behaviour, self-induced vomiting, as well as about their body image and self-esteem.
Ethical Issues: Case Study 2 Potential for harm to participants
Questionnaire may cause/uncover psychological distress - can this be appropriately managed?
Confidentiality and privacy Highly sensitive information: how will she ensure this
remains confidential? (Could her subjects be identified from her project even if not
explicitly named?) Indirect pressure on friends to participate Potential for biased or unreliable results
Personal relationship with subjects may affect interpretation of data or honest reporting
Not a properly chosen/representative sample