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Lecture 9- Ethics in Research

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Lecture 9- Ethics in Research

Uploaded by

samwel.ochieng21
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© © All Rights Reserved
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RESEARCH METHODOLOGY EEE 4209

LECTURE 9
Definition of Ethics

The study of the general nature of morals and of the


specific moral choices to be made by a person; moral
philosophy.

ethika or ethos meaning “Character”

The rules or standards governing the conduct of a


person or the members of a profession: e.g., medical
ethics, legal ethics, engineering ethics.
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Commonalities and differences between ethics and morals

Common

Both relate to “right”


and “wrong” conduct

difference
Ethics refer to rules provided Morals refer to an individual’s own
by an external source principles regarding right and wrong.

Driven by external social system Individual - internal


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Code of Ethics

• A code of ethics is a formal statement of group’s ideals and values.


• A code of ethics is a guide of principles designed to help professionals conduct
business honestly and with integrity.

• A code of ethics document may outline the mission and values of the business or
organization, how professionals are supposed to approach problems, the ethical
principles based on the organization’s core values and the standards to which the
professional is held.

• A code of ethics consists of all the obligations that professionals must respect
when carrying out their duties.

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Purpose of code of ethics
• To safeguard life, health, and property, to promote the
public welfare, and to maintain a high standard of
integrity and practice.

• Codes of ethics are derived mainly from common morality


- Do not harm
- Prevent harm
- Have right intention
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Uses

 Acknowledges the rightful place of individuals

 Contributes towards empowerment of individuals to become

responsible

 Identifies obligations in practice, research and relationships

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Research Ethics

• Research that involves human subjects or participants


raises unique and complex ethical, legal, social and
political issues.

• Research ethics are specifically interested in the analysis


of ethical issues that are raised when people are involved
as participants in research.

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Objectives of Research Ethics

• To protect human participants


• To ensure that research is conducted in a way that serves interests of
individuals, groups and/or society as a whole.

• To examine specific research activities and projects for their ethical


soundness, looking at issues such as the management risk, protection
of confidentiality and process of informed consent.

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Code and Policies for Research Ethics

• The following is a rough and general summary of some ethical principles


that various codes address:

• Honesty: strive for honesty in all scientific communications.


 Honestly report data, results, methods and procedures, and
publication status.

 Do not fabricate , falsify, or misrepresent data.

 Do not deceive colleagues, research sponsors or the public.

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• Objectivity
• Strive to avoid bias in experimental design, data analysis, data
interpretation, peer review, personal decisions, grant writing, expert
testimony and other aspects of research where objectivity is expected
or required.

• Avoid or minimize bias or self-deception.

• Disclose personal or financial interests that may affect research.

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• Integrity: keep your promises and agreements; act with sincerity; strive for
consistency of thought and action.

• Carefulness: avoid careless errors and negligence; carefully and critically


examine your own work and the work of your peers.
• Keep good records of research activities, such as data collection, research
design and correspondence with agencies or journals.

• Openness: share data, results, ideas, tools, resources.

• Be open to criticism and new ideas.

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• Respect for intellectual property: honour patents, copyrights and other
forms of intellectual property.

• Do not use unpublished data, methods or results without permission.

• Give proper acknowledgement or credit for all contributions to research.

• Never plagiarize. (academic theft)


• Legality: know and obey relevant laws and institutional and
governmental policies.

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Ethical Issues in Research
• Plagiarism check notes on plagiarism

• Falsification:
• Falsification is manipulating research materials, equipment, or processes
or changing or omitting data or results such that the research is not
accurately represented in the research record.

• changing or omission of research results (data) to support claims,


hypotheses, other data etc.

• Fabrication: making up results and recording or reporting them.

• Construction of data/ addition of data (due to incomplete data) 13


Ethics

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