Research Ethics Ethical Considerations. What is ‘ethics’? Webster’s collegiate dictionary defines ethics as: ‘the discipline dealing with what is good

Research EthicsResearch Ethics

Ethical ConsiderationsEthical Considerations

What is ‘ethics’?What is ‘ethics’?

Webster’s collegiate dictionary defines Webster’s collegiate dictionary defines ethics as:ethics as:

‘‘the discipline dealing with what is good and the discipline dealing with what is good and bad and with moral duty and obligation’bad and with moral duty and obligation’

Practical ethicsPractical ethics Deals with personal uncertainties and Deals with personal uncertainties and

conflicts of opinionconflicts of opinion What choice should I take?What choice should I take? Is this action fair?Is this action fair?


Theoretical ethicsTheoretical ethics If this action is right, what does right really If this action is right, what does right really

mean?mean?

Descriptive ethicsDescriptive ethics Relate to moral beliefsRelate to moral beliefs


Ethics insist upon the introduction of the Ethics insist upon the introduction of the individual human opinions and beliefs – individual human opinions and beliefs – therefore hard to definetherefore hard to define

‘‘most of our moral responses seem to be most of our moral responses seem to be more a matter of intuition and feeling than more a matter of intuition and feeling than of reasoning and logical deduction – we of reasoning and logical deduction – we are not always the rational creatures we are not always the rational creatures we would like to be’ (would like to be’ (Gross, 1996)Gross, 1996)

Research Methods and EthicsResearch Methods and Ethics

We need to consider ethical issues We need to consider ethical issues throughout time of researchthroughout time of research

To conduct research projects in line with To conduct research projects in line with ethical principlesethical principles

To follow ethical guidelinesTo follow ethical guidelines

Questionable practices in social Questionable practices in social researchresearch

Robson (1995) notes 10 questionable Robson (1995) notes 10 questionable practices in social research:practices in social research:

1.1. Involving people without their knowledge Involving people without their knowledge or consentor consent

2.2. Coercing them to participateCoercing them to participate

3.3. Withholding information about the true Withholding information about the true nature of the researchnature of the research

4.4. Otherwise deceiving the participantOtherwise deceiving the participant


5. Inducing participants to commit acts 5. Inducing participants to commit acts diminishing their self-esteemdiminishing their self-esteem

6. Violating rights of self-determination (in 6. Violating rights of self-determination (in studies seeking to promote individual studies seeking to promote individual change)change)

7. Exposing participant to physical or mental 7. Exposing participant to physical or mental stressstress

8. Invading privacy8. Invading privacy


9. Withholding benefits from some 9. Withholding benefits from some participants (comparison groups)participants (comparison groups)

10. Not treating participants fairly, or with 10. Not treating participants fairly, or with respectrespect

During data collection:During data collection:

Ensure data collected accuratelyEnsure data collected accurately Avoid exercising subjective selectivity in Avoid exercising subjective selectivity in

what is recordedwhat is recorded Consider confidentiality and anonymityConsider confidentiality and anonymity Subject to the requirement of legislation, Subject to the requirement of legislation,

ie. DPA, information obtained during an ie. DPA, information obtained during an investigation is confidential (unless investigation is confidential (unless otherwise agreed in advance).otherwise agreed in advance).

Data CollectionData Collection

‘‘the ability to explore data or to seek explanations the ability to explore data or to seek explanations through qualitatively based methods means that through qualitatively based methods means that there will be greater scope for ethical issues to there will be greater scope for ethical issues to arise in relation to this approach to research’ arise in relation to this approach to research’ (Easterby-Smith et al, 1991)(Easterby-Smith et al, 1991)

‘‘embarrassment and even harm could result from embarrassment and even harm could result from reporting data that are clearly attributable to a reporting data that are clearly attributable to a particular individual’ particular individual’ (Cooper & Schindler, 1988; (Cooper & Schindler, 1988; Robson, 1993)Robson, 1993)


Ethical concerns emerge as you plan your Ethical concerns emerge as you plan your researchresearch

In context of research ‘ethics’ refers to the In context of research ‘ethics’ refers to the appropriateness of your behaviour in appropriateness of your behaviour in relation to the rights of those who become relation to the rights of those who become the subject of our work, or are affected by the subject of our work, or are affected by it. Wells (1994) defines ethics in terms of it. Wells (1994) defines ethics in terms of a code of behaviour appropriate to a code of behaviour appropriate to academics and the conduct of research.academics and the conduct of research.


Ethical issues need to be considered Ethical issues need to be considered throughout the time of researchthroughout the time of research

Remain sensitive to the impact of your Remain sensitive to the impact of your work work On those whom you approachOn those whom you approach Those who provide access and cooperationThose who provide access and cooperation Those affected by your resultsThose affected by your results

Code of ethicsCode of ethics

Following a code of ethics will provide you Following a code of ethics will provide you with a statement of principles and with a statement of principles and procedures for the conduct of your procedures for the conduct of your researchresearch

You may be required to submit your You may be required to submit your research proposal to a research ethics research proposal to a research ethics committeecommittee

You may need ethical approval to carry You may need ethical approval to carry out your researchout your research

Meeting Ethical RequirementsMeeting Ethical Requirements

Students undertaking research within UK’s Students undertaking research within UK’s National Health Service have to meet National Health Service have to meet requirements established by their local requirements established by their local NHS Trust’s ethics committeeNHS Trust’s ethics committee

Any kind of research will inevitably lead to Any kind of research will inevitably lead to a range of ethical issues a range of ethical issues

Ethical Approval from the Ethics Ethical Approval from the Ethics Committee may be required before the Committee may be required before the start of the researchstart of the research

Ethical issues that affect researchEthical issues that affect research

Privacy of possible and actual participantsPrivacy of possible and actual participants Voluntary nature of participation and the right to Voluntary nature of participation and the right to

withdraw partially or completely from the processwithdraw partially or completely from the process Consent and possible deception of participantsConsent and possible deception of participants Maintenance of confidentiality of data provided by Maintenance of confidentiality of data provided by

individuals or identifiable participants and their anonymityindividuals or identifiable participants and their anonymity Reactions of participants to the way in which you seek to Reactions of participants to the way in which you seek to

collect datacollect data Effects on participants of the way in which you use, Effects on participants of the way in which you use,

analyse and report dataanalyse and report data Behaviour and objectivity of the researcherBehaviour and objectivity of the researcher

PRIVACYPRIVACY

Need at all times to respect privacyNeed at all times to respect privacy

NettiquetteNettiquette

Developed to provide heading for ‘rules’ or Developed to provide heading for ‘rules’ or guidelines about how to use the Internet for guidelines about how to use the Internet for researchresearch

Contacting possible participants easierContacting possible participants easier Forms of covert observation impinging on rights Forms of covert observation impinging on rights

of participantsof participants

SUMMARYSUMMARY Access and ethics are critical aspects for the conduct of researchAccess and ethics are critical aspects for the conduct of research Using different types and levels of access need to be identifiedUsing different types and levels of access need to be identified Feasibility an important determinant of what you choose to Feasibility an important determinant of what you choose to

research and how you undertake the researchresearch and how you undertake the research Research ethics refer to appropriateness of your behaviour Research ethics refer to appropriateness of your behaviour Potential ethical issues should be recognised and considered Potential ethical issues should be recognised and considered

from outset of researchfrom outset of research Ethical concerns likely to occur at all stages of researchEthical concerns likely to occur at all stages of research Ethical concerns associated with ‘power relationship’ between Ethical concerns associated with ‘power relationship’ between

the researcher and those who you have access tothe researcher and those who you have access to Use of Internet and email to collect data may generate ethical Use of Internet and email to collect data may generate ethical

concerns concerns

Internet locations for codes of Internet locations for codes of ethicsethics

http://www.the-sra.org.uk/index2.htm http://www.bps.org.uk/about/rules5.cfm http://www.apa.org/ethics/code.html http://www.britsoc.org.uk/about/ethic.htm

Documents

Research Ethics Ethical Considerations. What is ‘ethics’? Webster’s collegiate dictionary defines ethics as: ‘the discipline dealing with what is good