ETHICS --- DOING THE RIGHT THING

 

Ethical issues arise throughout research process

 

Ethics in Applied Research: ASA code of ethics statement

 

1. Privacy of participants - confidentiality and/or anonymity

 

2. Relationship btw. Researcher and participants

3. Do no harm - to participants or to researcher

What is the effect of participating on the participants – costs, benefits

    1. Experiments - "treatments" or denial thereof

b. Qualitative - covert observation

c. Surveys and Interviews - asking questions

 

4. Get informed consent:

confidentiality / anonymity,

purpose of research,

how to reach researcher,

benefits/costs to participant of participating in research,

how data will be handled and analyzed,

how confidentiality and anonymity maintained,

access to research results

Issues in Informed Consent:
    1. Implied Consent: Surveys, Observation
    2. Debriefing when consent not possible

c. Power issues in informed consent

 
  1. Responsibility to whom you generalize:

a. Accuracy of Conclusions: Researcher Bias

b. Accurate reporting results

    1. Releasing raw data: maintaining anonymity/confidentiality
    1. small geographic areas
    2. outliers

 

  1. IRB/Human Subjects: If universities or federal agencies involved

    2.  

  2. Writing and disseminating results:
    1. give credit where due: don’t plagiarize
    2. don’t embellish research methods
    3. describe limitations of research
    4. giving back to the participants

 

 

How to avoid ethical problems:

Consider all ethical issues during Research Design

 

  1. What is the purpose of the research?
    1. answer R.Q.
    2. solve/understand a social problem
    3. advance career
    4. get money
    5. social justice

 

  1. Who might be affected by or interested in the research?

    2. a. Participants, colleagues, media, boss, other researchers.

    b. How so?

    c. What are the costs and benefits to the participants?

     

  2. How might your values shape/bias the research design and results?

 

  1. What could go wrong?
    1. How could data be used inappropriately?
    2. How could people get hurt?
    3. How could I prevent these problems or handle them if they occur?

 

5. Always treat study participants, yourself, and colleagues with respect