Ethical Considerations in Research
What is a common definition of ethics? Ethics are a widely agreed upon set of standard behavior within a certain group or culture. Ethics can be favorable and unfavorable. Ethics are much broader when compared to formal laws, which denote acceptable and unacceptable behavior in a codified system. Ethics can influence our daily actions and can even influence the decisions researchers make when organizing a study. In research, ethical practices of data collection and data analysis can often be overlooked.
Even though data will not be collected for this course, it is important to understand the ethical issues in research. In research, one must understand that there are ethical issues in research design. Ethical issues may involve suppressing, falsifying, or even inventing findings to meet a researcher’s needs (Creswell, 2014).
In any research study, some potential ethical issues can surface that potentially impact the legitimacy of the final conclusions. Researchers must offer a full and complete explanation of the data collection and data interpretation. Fraudulent data and fraudulent research practices are not acceptable behavior and constitute as industry misconduct (Creswell, 2014). Consider the harm that can be done if researchers were to falsify other suppress findings in clinical trials of medicines. Data should be handled in an ethical manner at all times to avoid any conflicts of interest, impropriety or questions about the actual goals of the researcher. Research is about finding the truth and not about forwarding an agenda.
One area where ethical issues may arise in the gathering of data. Researchers with preconceived notions of what they believe the outcome may be can bias the research by:
– intentionally selecting certain individuals to interview
– coercing others selected to respond in a certain manner
– developing deliberate questions
– providing false background information
– accepting bribes from certain respondents to have that respondent’s view publicized
Ethical disposition often dictates how an individual will act in certain circumstances, or when working with various individuals (Creswell, 2014). By using critical thinking researchers who are acutely aware of how his/her personal beliefs can influence the methodology are more likely to take measures to prevent such bias from occurring. In many instances, these measures include; working in a research group, asking a neutral party to review the data, and using various data sources (Creswell, 2014).
Creswell (2014) mentions copying extensive material is an ethical issue, even when the material is paraphrased. In all cases of paraphrasing, the researcher must credit the original source. Researchers should ensure a thorough literature review is conducted using peer-review journal articles. Specifically, various journals and various researchers can help ensure that ethical considerations are incorporated into the research. In many research papers, the researcher will discuss the scope of the research project and areas for future research. A researcher should offer multiple perspectives in a research paper. Only offering one perspective is not proper research because whatever the results of the research, without a framework and perspective of other research, the narrow scope of the research will fall short of offering sufficient evidence.
There are several ethical issues that can surface from a research project. Researchers should be proactive and try to mitigate potential issues. Researchers should release the details of the research and let the readers determine for themselves the credibility of the work (Creswell, 2014). Last, but not least, it is important to use credible sources. Many websites and internet-based articles are biased and do not have strong supporting data/sources. A researcher should use peer-reviewed sources whenever possible as a means of supporting the research and findings.
Ethical considerations in research can take many forms. Some are obvious, such as adhering to applicable codes of conduct, institutional review boards, permissions, neutral sites, and authorship (Creswell, 2014). Some are not so obvious, such as respecting individual beliefs, cultural sensitivities, integrity with all participants, and preventing accidental, or intentional harm to others as a result of the research (Creswell, 2014). The potential ramifications of a breach of ethics can be enormous. The most significant influence on research comes from the political pressure, both external and internal, placed on individuals and the program area to conduct business in a certain way.
What are some ways to ensure ethics are considered in a research project?
– Validate sources
– Conduct Research in a new area/new subject
– Use several sources
– Use several research collection methodologies
– Research in a group
– Use ample time to conduct research
– Use varied; open-ended questions when interviewing human subjects
– Embrace perspectives of the research subjects
– Giving proper credit to previous research
– Request the research to be reviewed by an institutional review board (IRB)
It is important to be aware of potential issues that will affect data and research participants, guard against misconduct and impropriety and promptly address new, challenging problems. Pay attention to ethical issues during all phases of conducting research. Ethical behavior must happen in all stages of research, whether the researcher is conceptualizing the study or collecting, analyzing, reporting or storing the data.
Anticipating Ethical Issues
Researchers need to:
• Protect research participants
• Develop trust with research participants
• Promote the integrity of research
• Guard against misconduct
• Cope with new problems that emerge
A researcher should expect ethical issues in all aspects of research. Below are some areas to consider when considering possible ethical issues in research:
In the Research Problem
– Does the research problem benefit the individuals being studied?
In the Purpose and Questions
– Is there an explanation of the research purpose and sponsors to participants?
– Are there ethical issues in data collection?
– Is there proper respect for participants and sites?
– Does it put participants at risk?
– Is there respect for vulnerable populations?
– Have you obtained Institutional Review Board (IRB) approvals?
– Have you obtained informed consent from participants?
– Have you addressed issues of confidentiality?
– Is there proper access to all sites used as part of the research?
– Have you made provisions for all participants to receive benefits?
– Have you consider reciprocity?
– Have interviews been conducted with sensitivity?
– Have you anticipated issues that may arise?
In Data Analysis and Interpretation
– Protecting anonymity of participants
– Storing data and destroying it after a set time
– Planning for ownership of the data and not sharing data with others
– Providing an accurate account of the data
In Writing and Disseminating Research
– Have you used unbiased language when describing participants?
– Have you made sure not to suppress, invent, or falsify findings?
– Have the repercussions of the study on audiences been anticipated?
– Have you provided authorship to those who substantially contributed?
– Have you report the details of the research fully and honestly?
Reference
Creswell, J.W. (2014). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications
Why are ethical considerations so important in research? How is paid research as opposed to unpaid research viewed? Why is there a difference? Can people be objective if they are paid to conduct research?
Have you seen any ethical issues in your life or place of business?
