Research Ethics

Research Ethics

24 Nov 2008 Research Methodology2

Introduction

Group Work – ground rules Research Ethics – what are they? Ethics before, during and after research Engineering and research ethics Plagiarism – University of Greenwich, the law

and YOU


Group Discussion Tasks

Form yourselves into small groups How large is a ‘group’ There must be enough members to generate ideas

but not so many as to cause difficulties in communications

What difficulties could you forsee?– n(n-1) communication channels– Noise generated by large groups– Sub-group arguments


Group Work Rules

Any slide that has DISCUSS must be considered by the group verbally

Keep notes – who will keep notes? Post discussion Reflection Did your group reach a consensus on any,

some or all of the questions raised? What difficulties did you face with group

management?

DISCUSS


Debriefing

Next week I hope to be able to debrief you Bring along a summary of your discussions State any ethical problems you faced in this

task Try to define the value of the task Describe any other issues (ethical or logical)

that you may have discovered during your group discussions


What is Research?

Gathering of data– From people– From statistics– From refereed publications etc.– Field observations

Collating data Writing report or paper for publication Possible deliverable as a direct result


Why Research?

For the common good? For fame? To increase the sum of human knowledge? To help other people live better lives? For money – e.g. contracted research? What other reasons could there be to carry

out research?

DISCUSS


Ethics – a definition

“Research should avoid causing harm, distress, anxiety, pain or any other negative feeling to participants. Participants should be fully informed about all relevant aspects of the research, before they agree to take part” [1]


ARE YOU HOMOSEXUAL?

THIS IS A HYPOTHETICAL QUESTION - DO NOT ANSWER

THIS


Research questions – ethical or not?

Research may ask a taboo or personal question What if you were asked if you are homosexual

– How would you feel if you were asked this?– Would you feel awkward?– Would you lie?– Would you answer truthfully?

Why are we asking this question anyway? Could we phrase the question better?

DISCUSS


Consequentialism

“Consequentialism refers to those moral theories which hold that the consequences of a particular action form the basis for any valid moral judgment about that action. Thus, from a consequentialist standpoint, a morally right action is one that produces a good outcome, or consequence.” [2]


Pause for thought

Is it morally correct to carry out research by any means whatsoever providing that the end result increases the sum of human knowledge or provides some tangible benefit to mankind?

Does the end justify the means?

DISCUSS


Ethics before Research begins

Inform all participants fully– What about children– Mentally deficient people– Those with poor language skills

Obtain consent Define the ‘gatekeeper’ Craft your research methods carefully

– No distortion of the data


Ethics during Research

Field notes – what are they? Do we need these? Can we use these in our research?

– Consent issues– Content issues– Moral issues

You have heard about a crime – do you report it?

DISCUSS


Counselling Respondents

You hear something from a respondent that makes you believe he/ she is distressed

Should you offer counselling? Would this distort the research? Are you qualified to act as a counsellor?

[3] Knight 2002: 171-2

DISCUSS


Confidentiality of respondent data

How do we keep track of respondents? Should we keep track of respondents? How do we de-personalise gathered data? If data are depersonalised, is it morally

correct to reuse this data for a new research project?

DISCUSS


Ethics after Research

Disposal of data – paper or digital? Freedom of Information Act Reuse of data – is this ethical?

– Are there occasions where reuse of gathered data for another purpose is ok?

Requesting permission from respondents– Difficulties of contacting original respondents

DISCUSS


Use of ICT for Communication

Does ICT help or hinder research? Consider typical email content or SMS This is becoming brief and losing clarity c.f.

surface mail in the past How does the receiver perceive the email/ SMS? Is it valid/ ethical to use these forms of

communication during research?


Engineering and Ethics

Confidentiality of data Ownership of research results Consider research results

– Is a cure for a disease as the direct result of research ‘good’?

– Is the creation of a powerful bomb as the direct result of research ‘good’?

e.g. the atom bomb

DISCUSS


Research Ethics Committees

Monitor ethical issues in research programmes Before during and after research Makes decisions and enforces these Gives researchers organisational support

– Reassurance to researchers about moral issues related to a particular research project


Plagiarism

What is plagiarism? How do we avoid plagiarism? What are the dangers that plagiarism

causes? State some examples of plagiarism.

DISCUSS


Conclusion

Ethics are moral issues relating to the prior design, gathering and usage of data for research purposes

Think before, during and after Consult gatekeepers and respondents Never act alone – consult your supervisor if

in doubt


References

[1] Oliver P, (2008) Research Ethics, OU Press

[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/End_justifies_the_means 23/11/08

[3] Knight P.T. (2002) Small Scale Research, London: Sage

Documents

Research Ethics