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{{Expert}}
  
{{Expert}}
   
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'''Research ethics''' involves the application of fundamental [[ethical]] principles to a variety of topics involving [[scientific research]].
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'''Research ethics''' involves the application of fundamental [[ethical]] principles to a variety of topics involved in [[scientific research]].
   
 
A well constructed research ethics policy should seek to address the following issues:
  
A well constructed research ethics policy should seek to address the following issues:
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*Clinical trials on incapacitated adults not able to give informed legal
 
*Clinical trials on incapacitated adults not able to give informed legal
 
*Establishment of mandatory [[Ethics Committee]]s
 
*Establishment of mandatory [[Ethics Committee]]s
−
*Governace procedures and independent ongoing oversight of the study.
+
*Governance procedures and independent ongoing oversight of the study.
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*Appropriate desemination of the results
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*Appropriate dissemination of the results
   
  ⚫
All research proposals now have to be submitted for ethical appproval by a local [[ethics committee]] in most countries.
   
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These include the design and implementation of research involving human participants ([[human experimentation]]) as well as [[animal experimentation]].
+
The proper implementation of such policies should protect participants and guard against [[academic dishonesty]], in the forms of [[scientific misconduct]], such as fraud, [[fabrication (science)]] of data and [[plagiarism]].
−  
−
The proper implementation of such policies should protect participants and guard against [[academic scandal]], due to including [[scientific misconduct]], such as fraud, [[fabrication (science)]] of data and [[plagiarism]].
  
   
−
Research ethics is most developed as a concept in medical research. The key agreement here is the 1964 [[Declaration of Helsinki]]which followed on from the Nurenburg Codes published after the Second World War trials and the revelations about the research performed on people in the concentration camps.
 +
Research ethics is most developed as a concept in [[medical ethics]]. The key agreement here is the 1964 [[Declaration of Helsinki]] which followed on from the Nurenburg Codes published after the Second World War trials and the revelations about the research performed on people in the concentration camps.
   
 
Within psychology emphasis has been placed on proper ethical control of experimental work in response to concerns expressed about the conduct of high profile studies as the [[Stanford prison experiment]] in the 1960's which showed on the one hand, how people could be brought to act in an unethical manner, and on the other how poor ethical procedures made the studies themselves potentially harmful to the participants.
  
Within psychology emphasis has been placed on proper ethical control of experimental work in response to concerns expressed about the conduct of high profile studies as the [[Stanford prison experiment]] in the 1960's which showed on the one hand, how people could be brought to act in an unethical manner, and on the other how poor ethical procedures made the studies themselves potentially harmful to the participants.
−  
⚫
All research proposals now have to be submitted for ethical appproval by a local [[ethics committee]] in most countries.
  
   
 
Research ethics guidelines are included in the professional ethical guidelines of many [[national psychological societies]] and in some cases are published seperately.
  
Research ethics guidelines are included in the professional ethical guidelines of many [[national psychological societies]] and in some cases are published seperately.
   
−
==Guidlines for animal research==
 +
==Ethical issues in research==
  +
−
 
  +
==Issues of scientific conduct==
  +
'''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 (science)|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 [[Ethical research in social science | 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.<ref>National Academy of Sciences. 2009. On Being a Scientist: Third Edition. Washington, DC: The national Academies Press. Available at: http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12192.</ref>
  +
  +
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 [[principalism]], an approach that has been criticised as being decontextualised.<ref>Shaw SE, Petchey RP, Chapman J, Abbott S (2009). "A double-edged sword? Health research and research governance in UK primary care." ''Social Science & Medicine'', '''68''': 912-918</ref>
  +
  +
==Key issues==
  +
In terms of research publications, a number of key issues include and are not restricted to<ref name="Chanson2008">{{cite book|author=[[Hubert Chanson]] |title=[http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:159099 Digital Publishing, Ethics and Hydraulic Engineering: The Elusive or "Boring" Bore?] |publisher=In: Stefano Pagliara 2nd International Junior Researcher and Engineer Workshop on Hydraulic Structures (IJREW'08), Pisa, Italy, Keynote, pp. 3-13, 30 July-1 August 2008 |year=2008 |isbn=978-88-8492-568-8}}</ref>:
  +
* 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<ref name="Chanson2007">{{cite book|author=[[Hubert Chanson]] |title=[http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:124078 Research Quality, Publications and Impact in Civil Engineering into the 21st Century. Publish or Perish, Commercial versus Open Access, Internet versus Libraries ?] |publisher=Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering, NRC, Vol. 34, No. 8, pp. 946-951 (DOI:10.1169/L07-027) |year=2007 |isbn=}} </ref>.
  +
* Ethical standards. Recent journal editorials presented some experience of unscrupulous activities.<ref name="Mavinic2006">{{cite book|author=D. Mavinic |title=The "Art" of Plagiarism |publisher=Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering, NRC, Vol. 33, Iss. 3, pp. iii-vi |year=2006 |isbn=}}</ref><ref name="AIAA2007">{{cite book|author=AIAA |title=Publication Ethical Standards:
  +
Guidelines and Procedures |publisher=AIAA Jl, Vol. 45, No. 8,
  +
Editorial, No. 8, p. 1794 (DOI: 10.2514/1.32639) |year=2007 |isbn=}}</ref>
  +
* Authorship. Who may claim a right to authorship?<ref name="Chanson2008" /> In which order should the authors be listed?
  +
<!--
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<ref name="Chanson2007" />
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<ref name="Chanson2008" />
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<ref name="Mavinic2006" />
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<ref name="AIAA2007" />
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-->
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<!--==Deception in experiments==
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The use of deception in psychological experimentation is a methodological procedure where the researchers purposely mislead or misinform the participants about the true nature of the experiment. The process of concealing information from the participants is omission and the purposely misleading of the participants about what is being studied is commission. The use of deception is reserved only for when it is absolutely necessary to preserve the naturalness of the participants’ behavior and the researcher must follow specific guidelines set forth by the [[American Psychological Association]] (APA).
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=== Deception in Psychological Research ===
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==== APA Guidelines 8.07 ====
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(a) Psychologists do not conduct a study involving deception unless they have determined that the use of deceptive techniques is justified by the study's significant prospective scientific, educational, or applied value and that effective nondeceptive alternative procedures are not feasible.
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(b) Psychologists do not deceive prospective participants about research that is reasonably expected to cause physical pain or severe emotional distress.
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(c) Psychologists explain any deception that is an integral feature of the design and conduct of an experiment to participants as early as is feasible, preferably at the conclusion of their participation, but no later than at the conclusion of the data collection, and permit participants to withdraw their data.
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==== 8.08 Debriefing ====
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(a) Psychologists provide a prompt opportunity for participants to obtain appropriate information about the nature, results, and conclusions of the research, and they take reasonable steps to correct any misconceptions that participants may have of which the psychologists are aware.
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(b) If scientific or humane values justify delaying or withholding this information, psychologists take reasonable measures to reduce the risk of harm.
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(c) When psychologists become aware that research procedures have harmed a participant, they take reasonable steps to minimize the harm.(Association, 2003)
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===Deception Justified in Psychological Experimentation ===
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# When it is necessary to investigate important research questions involving the observation of true human behavior, which could not be examined through other means
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# When the use of deception would not cause more risk to the participant than everyday life events.
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# When the researcher thoroughly debriefs the participants immediately at the conclusion of the experiment, and explains what was studied.
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# All APA Guidelines and Code of Ethics are followed.
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# Research is approved by proper authorities (IRB’s, etc.).
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=== Pros of using Deception in Psychological Experimentation ===
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# Deception increases the impact of the experimental environment; making the experimental situation more realistic in turn increasing internal validity of a study.
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# Deception allows for studying human life that a researcher would not necessarily be able to study ethically.
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# With deception a researcher is able to protect against problems with participants. For example, a participant's motives can affect how he/she responds in an experimental situation.
  +
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=== Cons of using Deception in Psychological Experimentation ===
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# Deception can be ethically irresponsible.
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# Participants cooperate accordingly only in an environment of clarity, openness, and trust. They can get defensive when they feel they are being misled by the experimenter.
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# Some participants might develop emotional or mental issues because they feel they were lied to.
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# Since deception experiments generally take place in a laboratory, the external validity can be low.
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=== Examples of Deception in Psychological Experimentation ===
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"Danger: Severe Shock"
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:An experiment conducted by [[Stanley Milgram|Research Stanley Milgram]] in 1963 used deception.
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:The deception in this experiment includes the researcher telling the participant that he will be participating in an experiment involving the effects of punishment upon learning. But actually the study looks at the participant's willingness to obey hurtful commands. Ultimately the participant was to administer increasing amounts of electric shock to a confederate when the confederate answered a question incorrectly posed by the researcher. The confederate begins to react to the electric shock, screaming and yelling in agony, but the participant in the experiment is urged to continue with the electric shock despite his reluctance. 64% of participants shocked the learner (confederate) with the highest voltage.-->
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The ethical questions raised in psychological research differ with the research methods used
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  +
==Ethical issues in human experimentation==
  +
  +
  +
===Ethical issues in longtudinal research===
  +
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==Ethical issues in animal experiments==
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*[[animal welfare]].
  +
  +
  +
  +
===Guidlines for animal research===
  +
  +
  +
  +
===Ethical isues in unobtrusive research==
  ⚫
* [[Internet research ethics]]
  +
  +
 
==See also==
  
==See also==
  +
* [[Debriefng (experimental)|Debriefing]]
 
* [[Ethical failures in psychological research]]
  
* [[Ethical failures in psychological research]]
  +
* [[Fraud]]
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* [[Internet research ethics]]
  
  +
* [[Informed consent]]
 
* [[Professional ethics]]
  
* [[Professional ethics]]
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* [[Therapeutic misconception]]
   
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==References & Bibliography==
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==References & Bibliography==
−
<References/>
 +
<references/>
−
==Key texts==
+
==Key texts==
 
===Books===
  
===Books===
 
*APA Guidelines for the Ethical Conduct in the Care and Use of Animals][http://www.apa.org/science/anguide.html]
  
*APA Guidelines for the Ethical Conduct in the Care and Use of Animals][http://www.apa.org/science/anguide.html]
 
*Kimmel, A.J. (1982).Ethics and Values in Applied Social Research. APA Books. ISBN 0912704829
  
*Kimmel, A.J. (1982).Ethics and Values in Applied Social Research. APA Books. ISBN 0912704829
  +
−
 
 
===Papers===
  
===Papers===
   
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===Papers===
  
===Papers===
 
*[http://scholar.google.com/scholar?sourceid=mozclient&num=50&scoring=d&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&q=Research+ethics Google Scholar]
  
*[http://scholar.google.com/scholar?sourceid=mozclient&num=50&scoring=d&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&q=Research+ethics Google Scholar]
−  
   
 
==External Resources about Research Ethics==
  
==External Resources about Research Ethics==
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*The [http://www.fhi.org/training/en/Retc/resources.htm References] section includes references to some of the major documents of research ethics, such as:
  
*The [http://www.fhi.org/training/en/Retc/resources.htm References] section includes references to some of the major documents of research ethics, such as:
 
**[http://www.fhi.org/training/en/Retc/belmont.htm Belmont Report: Ethical Principles and Guidelines for the Protection of Human Subjects Research (produced by The National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research)],
 
**[http://www.fhi.org/training/en/Retc/belmont.htm Belmont Report: Ethical Principles and Guidelines for the Protection of Human Subjects Research (produced by The National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research)],
−
**[http://www.fhi.org/training/en/Retc/helsinki.htm World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki]
+
**[http://www.fhi.org/training/en/Retc/helsinki.htm World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki]
 
**[[http://www.fhi.org/training/en/Retc/cioms.htm CIOMS 1993 International Ethical Guidelines for Biomedical Research Involving Human Subjects].
  
**[[http://www.fhi.org/training/en/Retc/cioms.htm CIOMS 1993 International Ethical Guidelines for Biomedical Research Involving Human Subjects].
 
*The [http://www1.umn.edu/ships/ethics/research.htm Research Ethics] section of the SHiPS ('''S'''ociology, '''Hi'''story and '''P'''hilosophy of '''S'''cience) website provides some useful resources, including case studies relevant to [[scientific misconduct]].
  
*The [http://www1.umn.edu/ships/ethics/research.htm Research Ethics] section of the SHiPS ('''S'''ociology, '''Hi'''story and '''P'''hilosophy of '''S'''cience) website provides some useful resources, including case studies relevant to [[scientific misconduct]].
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*[http://www.lfcc.on.ca/ethical.html 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
  
*[http://www.lfcc.on.ca/ethical.html 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
   
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[[Category:Research ethics]]
  
 
{{enWP|Research ethics}}
  
{{enWP|Research ethics}}
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[[Category:Ethics]]
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[[Category:Research ethics]]

Latest revision as of 22:23, 10 November 2012

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Research ethics involves the application of fundamental ethical principles to a variety of topics involved in scientific research.

A well constructed research ethics policy should seek to address the following issues:

  • Requirement for a clear research protocol statement from the outset, including clear timetable and detailed procedures.
  • Protection of clinical trial subjects
  • Clinical trials on minors
  • Clinical trials on incapacitated adults not able to give informed legal
  • Establishment of mandatory Ethics Committees
  • Governance procedures and independent ongoing oversight of the study.
  • Appropriate dissemination of the results

All research proposals now have to be submitted for ethical appproval by a local ethics committee in most countries.

The proper implementation of such policies should protect participants and guard against academic dishonesty, in the forms of scientific misconduct, such as fraud, fabrication (science) of data and plagiarism.

Research ethics is most developed as a concept in medical ethics. The key agreement here is the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki which followed on from the Nurenburg Codes published after the Second World War trials and the revelations about the research performed on people in the concentration camps.

Within psychology emphasis has been placed on proper ethical control of experimental work in response to concerns expressed about the conduct of high profile studies as the Stanford prison experiment in the 1960's which showed on the one hand, how people could be brought to act in an unethical manner, and on the other how poor ethical procedures made the studies themselves potentially harmful to the participants.

Research ethics guidelines are included in the professional ethical guidelines of many national psychological societies and in some cases are published seperately.

Ethical issues in research

Issues of scientific conduct

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.[1]

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 principalism, an approach that has been criticised as being decontextualised.[2]

Key issues

In terms of research publications, a number of key issues include and are not restricted to[3]:

  • 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[4].
  • Ethical standards. Recent journal editorials presented some experience of unscrupulous activities.[5][6]
  • Authorship. Who may claim a right to authorship?[3] In which order should the authors be listed?



The ethical questions raised in psychological research differ with the research methods used

Ethical issues in human experimentation

Ethical issues in longtudinal research

Ethical issues in animal experiments


Guidlines for animal research

=Ethical isues in unobtrusive research


See also

References & Bibliography

  1. ↑ National Academy of Sciences. 2009. On Being a Scientist: Third Edition. Washington, DC: The national Academies Press. Available at: http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12192.
  2. ↑ Shaw SE, Petchey RP, Chapman J, Abbott S (2009). "A double-edged sword? Health research and research governance in UK primary care." Social Science & Medicine, 68: 912-918
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Hubert Chanson (2008). Digital Publishing, Ethics and Hydraulic Engineering: The Elusive or "Boring" Bore?, In: Stefano Pagliara 2nd International Junior Researcher and Engineer Workshop on Hydraulic Structures (IJREW'08), Pisa, Italy, Keynote, pp. 3-13, 30 July-1 August 2008.
  4. ↑ Hubert Chanson (2007). Research Quality, Publications and Impact in Civil Engineering into the 21st Century. Publish or Perish, Commercial versus Open Access, Internet versus Libraries ?, Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering, NRC, Vol. 34, No. 8, pp. 946-951 (DOI:10.1169/L07-027).
  5. ↑ D. Mavinic (2006). The "Art" of Plagiarism, Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering, NRC, Vol. 33, Iss. 3, pp. iii-vi.
  6. ↑ AIAA (2007). Publication Ethical Standards: Guidelines and Procedures, AIAA Jl, Vol. 45, No. 8, Editorial, No. 8, p. 1794 (DOI: 10.2514/1.32639).

Key texts

Books

  • APA Guidelines for the Ethical Conduct in the Care and Use of Animals][1]
  • Kimmel, A.J. (1982).Ethics and Values in Applied Social Research. APA Books. ISBN 0912704829

Papers

Additional material

Books

Papers

External Resources about Research Ethics

Other External Links


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