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Ethics in Research

Ethics in Research. Based out of texts by Neuman and Babbie. Ethics of Omission – the parts of science done wrongly. Nobody starts out intending to violate ethical codes. Research as Pressure Cooker. Research Publish Prestige ???? Profit!. Scientific Misconduct.

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Ethics in Research

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  1. Ethics in Research Based out of texts by Neuman and Babbie

  2. Ethics of Omission – the parts of science done wrongly Nobody starts out intending to violate ethical codes

  3. Research as Pressure Cooker • Research • Publish • Prestige • ???? • Profit!

  4. Scientific Misconduct • Unintentional (Misfeasance) • Sloppy work • Careless mistakes • Rushed quality control • Intentional (Malfeasance) • Falsification • Fabrication • Misrepresentation • Plagiarism • Don’t ruin it for the rest of us! • Climate research controversy, England

  5. Big Questions • Are we ever justified in risking harm or injury to participants?

  6. Basic Principles • No unnecessary harm • No irreversible harm • Consent: • Prior • Informed • Voluntary • Never release data • Small compensation if any

  7. Kinds of Harm: Physical • Medical research • Even some social research!

  8. Tuskegee Syphilis Experiments • 1929 (pre-penicillin) – 1972 • Advanced cases left untreated • Presidential apology 1992

  9. US Govt. Experiments • Late 1940s – radionuclide injections • 1950s - Fallout effects on Kodak film(!) • 1960s - LSD injections

  10. Kinds of Harm: Psychological • Stress, self-esteem, ethics, coercion • E.g.: POGO off-trail make out session • The most subtle: even survey question range effects! • E.g., Salary questions

  11. Zimbardo (Stanford) Prison Experiment • 1970s, 2 week setup • De-individualized prisoners vs. guards • Basement prison • Breakdown within 36 hours • 6 days, termination

  12. Milgram Experiments • How did the Nazis get so evil? 1960s • Rigged randomization/setup • Conspirator in chair • Subject at dial • Conspirator with subject, commanding • Extreme emotional duress

  13. Deception • Never preferred • Used to ensure validity for sensitive tests • Socially acceptable response bias • Washington State shooting tragedy (1973) • Covert observation • Public vs. private

  14. Kinds of Harm: Legal • Illegal behaviors • Subpoena • DOJ waivers

  15. Tearoom Trade, 1970 • Laud Humphreys • Public restrooms in parks • Homosexual encounters • Watchqueen • License plates • Police & public records • Health survey

  16. Anonymity vs. Confidentiality • Privacy: any privileged information • Anonymity: name stripped from data • A myth these days • Confidentiality: identifying info stripped, data access is privileged • How you protect personal information

  17. Why Confidentiality Matters • FBI vs. Kinsey sex study • You may find yourself in [contempt of] court

  18. Who Has What Personal Information • Facebook • Name • Family • Location • Education • Political stance

  19. How Ethics ReviewProtects You

  20. Human Subjects Committee • Advancing knowledge vs. noninterference • Burden hours • Specific contact protocol

  21. Blowing the Whistle • Applied research is usually sponsored • Forced findings, limits on methods, suppressed findings, concealed sponsor • Communicate clearly and early • Be sure you’re right • Understand the cost • Follow through

  22. Getting Help • Colleagues • Ethics review boards • Professional organization guidelines • Ombudsman • Not the press

  23. Ethics of commission – doing science rightly for society Tough Decisions You may face

  24. Limits to Your Time • You have limited time for research • Answer some questions • Others go unanswered • The question selection is on ethical basis

  25. You Will Be Asked to Take Sides • Your research will be used, beyond your control • Refusing to take a position is still taking one • Status quo • Managers often want a “button to push” from you, the expert

  26. Questions Posed to Researchers • How much dioxin is acceptable in breast milk? • How much heavy metal ash can be released by this incinerator without raising the cancer risk by more than 1:10,000? • How much grizzly habitat can be removed without harming the local grizzly population? O’Brien (1993) BioScience 43(10)

  27. Answering vs. Changing The Question • Risk assessment • Serum dioxin concentration risk • Alternatives assessment • Alternatives to dioxin-producing processes • Tricky: funded for risk assessment, advocating for alternative assessment, data examine risk O’Brien (1993) BioScience 43(10)

  28. Objectivity =/= Passivity • Almost no one on the planet is more of an expert than you on your specific research • Work with a public interest group • Do relevant projects • Serve on task forces and committees O’Brien (1993) BioScience 43(10)

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