When creating a research plan, researchers need to anticipate the ethical issues that may arise

during the study. Ethics are individual beliefs of what is right or wrong. Research does involve

collecting data and information from and about individuals, thus ethical behavior and actions are

extremely important. The entire research process must be monitored to ensure each step is

following the highest standards of conduct possible, and properties and participants are

protected. In today’s society, everything must be transparent, and the researcher must be

accountable and responsible. The researcher must be extremely careful of his or her actions when

conducting a study that may be published. Improperly protecting information regarding the

research could have adverse impacts to an organization, customer, research project results, and

participants (“Research Methodologies”, n.d.). For example, if unethical behavior leads to

exaggerated research or results, such as a medicine under research, then it could have severe

issues with patients that use the medicine. If unethical behavior is discovered, it could have an

adverse impact on you and your team’s credibility. Once that credibility is lost, it is very difficult

to get back. Regardless of the research, during the entire process, careful consideration must be

given to honesty, integrity, intellectual property, the use of human subjects, confidentiality, and

social responsibility. How a research team can validate or ensure that ethical behavior is being

followed will also be discussed.

Research must be conducted with honesty. According to Merriam Webster, honesty is

“fairness and straightforwardness of conduct, and adherence to the facts” (“Honesty”, n.d.).

Honesty must be strived for in all research communication. It is important not to deceive

colleagues, the public, and any granting agency with fabricated, falsified, or misrepresented data.

Once the research is dishonest or falsely represents the actual results, then the researcher’s

credibility will be lost. In addition, there can be adverse impacts to participants and intellectual

property.

Ethical practices during a research study also ensure integrity over the research project.

Integrity is keeping promises and agreements. Integrity also means the research must act with

sincerity and strive for consistency with their thoughts and actions. The researcher is always held

accountable for his or her actions. Breaking agreements or promises, and being insincere can

violate that accountability, and loose the credibility of the research. Thus integrity is a crucial

consideration for ethical behavior in research projects.

Ethical behavior and actions are also crucial in regards to intellectual property. The term

Intellectual property, deals with any creation of the mind, such as an invention, discovery,

improvements, copyrightable work, trademarks, trade secrets, and any licensable know-how

(“Intellectual Property”, n.d.). The misuse of intellectual property has become widespread in

today’s world. For example, a chemical company lost trade secretes when its employees had

gone to a competitor with their research results (“Misuse if Intellectual Property”, n.d.).

Fortunately for the property holder, existing laws are being strengthened -- and new ones created

– to prevent misuse of intellectual property. Thus, it is very important that there is proper

protection of intellectual property, and it should be used only with prior permission, and properly

cited in the research report. Seeking permission and citing the source in reports will ensure that a

researcher is acting ethically and legally with intellectual property.

There are several ethical issues that must be considered when designing a research that will

use human subjects. First, the primary concern is that the researcher must consider the safety of

the participant. The researcher must carefully consider any risks, and then continually monitor

the research as it proceeds. Next, the researcher must obtain an informed consent from the

participants. Next, the researcher must list how privacy and confidentiality concerns will be

approached. The researcher will have to be careful that there is no unauthorized observation of

the research work, and have a process in place to notify participants if this has been violated. The

researcher must also consider how any adverse events will be handled, such as who will provide

care for the participant who is hurt by the study, and who will pay for it. Thus, it is extremely

important that ethical guidelines are followed in regards to research that involves human lives.

Confidentiality is another important concern in regards to conducting a research project. Since

many research projects depends on participants, and their participation may require that they

volunteer information about their beliefs and actions, then the researcher must make sure this

information remains confidential. Furthermore, a participant is more likely to provide honest

responses if they know that their identity will not be exposed. It is the ethical responsibility that

the researcher address privacy issues at the beginning of the project and before publication. In

addition, the researcher must guarantee a participant’s confidentiality.

Ethical behavior and action should also be considered for social responsibility. From a

research project perspective, to be socially responsible is to have an obligation of the researcher

towards the welfare and interests of the society in which the research is being conducted. The

researcher should consider if the research he or she is conducting would benefit society in any

form. The researcher needs to ask, “Will this research enhance society?” Thus, it is an ethical

decision for the researcher to determine if his or her work will benefit society. Then they will be

socially responsible.

Throughout the research process, a researcher and his or her team must validate or ensure that

ethical behavior is being followed. This can be achieved by following guidelines and never

deviating away from them. If there are any deviations, then research should be stopped and

investigated. However, if these deviations are necessary, then the subjects and client for whom

the research is being done should be informed. The researcher and his or her team must always

ask, “Is what I am doing right or wrong?” If at any time the research, or any information for it,

does seem wrong, then the research work should be stopped and clarified before proceeding

further. By following these suggestions, a researcher can ensure that ethical behavior is being

followed.

Conclusion:

Ethical behavior and actions are critical to protecting the integrity of organizations,

participants, customers, the research project, and participants. When conducting research, the

researcher must monitor the entire process carefully to ensure each step is behaving or acting

ethically. By doing so, the research will be honest, the intellectual property will be protected, the

human subjects will be guaranteed safety and privacy, and finally, the research will be socially

responsible.

References:

Honesty. (n.d.). Retrieved November 25, 2012, from Merriam Webster Web site:

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/honesty

Intellectual Property. (n.d.). Retrieved November 25, 2012, from University of Minnesota

Teaching Ethics for Research Web site:

http://www.research.umn.edu/ethics/curriculum/intellectual_property.html

Misuse of Intellectual Property. (n.d.). Retrieved November 25, 2012, from Kroll Advisory

Solutions Web site: http://www.krolladvisory.com/investigations/misuse-intellectual-

property/

Research Methodologies. (n.d.). Retrieved November 25, 2012, from CTU Online:

http://coursebuildercontent.careeredonline.com/Assets/20000/13751.pdf