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Research Ethics

Research Ethics. All researchers, even students, have a responsibility to conduct ethical research Participants in research studies should know and understand their rights and responsibilities Ethical considerations are part of the design of the research project.

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Research Ethics

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  1. Research Ethics All researchers, even students, have a responsibility to conduct ethical research Participants in research studies should know and understand their rights and responsibilities Ethical considerations are part of the design of the research project

  2. Ethical Questions in Planning Research • Researcher has two broad ethical responsibilities • Scientific responsibility for following established guidelines and conducting research that will yield knowledge worth knowing • The researcher’s relationship to participants as it affects collection, interpretation, and reporting of data

  3. Ethical Questionsin Planning Research What are the benefits of this study? How will the consent of participants be gained? How will confidentiality/anonymity be handled? Are the participants appropriate for the study? Are there potential physical or psychological harms How will the researcher’s role affect the study? Is the research design valid, credible? Is researcher capable of conducting the study?

  4. The Belmont Report Guidelines adopted by federal departments and agencies • Three ethical principles • Beneficence • Respect for persons • Justice • Design research to uphold these principles to the fullest degree possible

  5. Beneficence Benefits Risks The well-being of participants is protected Participants protected from harm Researcher must maximize possible benefits Benefits to participants must outweigh risks

  6. Respect for Persons • Treat individuals as capable of making decisions • Refrain from making choices for participants • Participants must feel free to volunteer; no coercion • Protecting those not capable of making their own decisions

  7. Justice • Issues of fairness • All participants treated equally • Selection of participants • Am I systematically selecting one group of participants because they are • Easily available? • In a position making it difficult to say no? • In a position in which they can be manipulated into participating?

  8. Institutional Review Board • University Institutional Review Board • Also called IRB or Human Subjects Review • Considers soundness and reasonableness of research proposals • Determines if rights and welfare of research participants are adequately protected in research design Submit proposal before any data are collected

  9. IRB Proposals Research questions or hypotheses Brief review of literature Description of how participants are recruited/selected Informed consent Research methods How benefits are maximized, risks minimized Anonymity & confidentiality Investigator’s background

  10. Informed Consent Information must be given to participants any time data are collected from them Creates obligations and responsibilities for the researcher Participant consent must be given voluntarily Written in a manner participants can understand – clear and accurate

  11. Elements of Informed Consent Identification of researcher and organization Purpose of study Features of research process Expected duration Possible risks and benefits How confidentiality and anonymity assured Any physical or psychological harms If deception is used To whom follow-up questions can be directed Participation is voluntary Can discontinue or refuse to participate without penalty Indication that participant should have copy of form

  12. Informed Consent for Quantitative Research Traditionally applied to all quantitative projects Describes the exact procedures Indicates if participants will be exposed to any materials that may be threatening or distasteful May require participant to sign and return a copy of the form

  13. Informed Consent for Qualitative Research • IRB will decide if informed consent is needed based on • Is interaction occurring naturally in a public setting? • Will researcher’s interaction with participants in that setting create negative consequences for any of the participants? • Always check with your IRB to see if consent is required

  14. Ethical Issues in Conducting Research Intentional deception Use of confederates Physical and psychological harm Upholding anonymity and confidentiality Videotaping and audiotaping participants Debriefing participants

  15. Ethical Issues in Reporting Research • Ensuring accuracy • Researcher is always responsible for accuracy regardless of who helps • Avoiding plagiarism by • Using direct quotes with proper citations • Using summaries or paraphrases • Acknowledge ideas or contributions • Protecting identities of participants

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