Research Ethics, Importance, Objectives and Policies of Research Ethics

RESEARCH ETHICS
Dr. KAVITHAMANI R
Assistant Professor
Department of Commerce
Sri Ramakrishna College of Arts & Science
Coimbatore - 641 006
Tamil Nadu, India
1
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

Research ethics refers to the Principles and Guidelines that
govern the Ethical conduct of research involving human
participants or animals. These Principles are designed to ensure
that research is conducted in a manner that respects the rights,
dignity, and well-being of the individuals or animals involved.
Research Ethics is an essential aspect of scientific inquiry and
helps maintain the integrity and credibility of research findings.
It refers to the moral principles, values, and guidelines that
govern the conduct of research. It involves ensuring the rights,
safety, and well-being of participants, maintaining scientific
integrity, and upholding the trust of the public.
Meaning of Research Ethics

Research ethics is crucial for the following reasons:
1. Scientific Integrity: Research ethics upholds the integrity
and validity of the research process.
2. Compliance: Ethical guidelines ensure compliance with
legal and regulatory requirements.
3. Ethical Decision-Making: Ethics guides researchers in
navigating complex ethical dilemmas.
4. Collaboration & Reputation: Ethical practices foster
collaboration and enhance the reputation of researchers and
institutions.
5. Credibility & Trust: Ethical practices enhance the
credibility and trustworthiness of research findings.
Importance of Research Ethics

A better grasp of research ethics can be achieved by
understanding the objectives underlying its application. The
primary goals of the research include:
• Protection of Participants: Research ethics focuses on
ensuring the well-being and rights of research
participants through informed consent, risk
minimization, and adequate safeguards.
• Scientific Integrity: Research ethics upholds the
integrity and validity of the research process by
promoting unbiased data collection, analysis, and
reporting, preventing fraud, and encouraging research
reproducibility.
• Social Responsibility: Research ethics also ensures that
the research is carried out in a manner that benefits
individuals or society as a whole.
OBJECTIVES OF RESEARCH ETHICS

The following is a rough and general summary of some
ethical principles that various codes address:
1. 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,
granting agencies, or the public.
2. Objectivity: Strive to avoid bias in experimental design,
data analysis, data interpretation, peer review, personnel
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.
3. Integrity: Keep your promises and agreements; act with
sincerity; strive for consistency of thought and action.
CODES AND POLICIES FOR RESEARCH ETHICS

4. 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.
5. Openness: Share data, results, ideas, tools, resources. Be
open to criticism and new ideas.
6. Respect for Intellectual Property: Honor patents,
copyrights, and other forms of intellectual property. Do not use
unpublished data, methods, or results without permission. Give
credit where credit is due. Give proper acknowledgement or
credit for all contributions to research. Never plagiarize.
7. Confidentiality: Protect confidential communications, such
as papers or grants submitted for publication, personnel
records, trade or military secrets, and patient records.

8. Responsible Publication: Publish in order to advance
research and scholarship, not to advance just your own career.
Avoid wasteful and duplicative publication.
9. Responsible Mentoring: Help to educate, mentor, and
advise students. Promote their welfare and allow them to make
their own decisions.
10. Respect for colleagues: Respect your colleagues and treat
them fairly.
11. Social Responsibility: Strive to promote social good and
prevent or mitigate social harms through research, public
education, and advocacy.
12. Non-Discrimination: Avoid discrimination against
colleagues or students on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity, or
other factors that are not related to their scientific competence
and integrity.

13. Competence: Maintain and improve your own
professional competence and expertise through lifelong
education and learning; take steps to promote competence
in science as a whole.
14. Legality: Know and obey relevant laws and
institutional and governmental policies.
15. Animal Care: Show proper respect and care for
animals when using them in research. Do not conduct
unnecessary or poorly designed animal experiments.
16. Confidentiality: Participant identities and data
should be kept confidential and protected.
17. Vulnerable Groups: Special care should be taken
when involving sensitive groups in research.

18. Beneficence and Nonmaleficence: Researchers
are responsible for protecting participants and the
public from unethical practices.
19. Informed Consent: Participants should be fully
informed about the research and its potential risks.
20. Plagiarism: Researchers should not present
someone else’s work as their own or present their
own work in multiple forms as unique.
21. Fabrication: Manipulating or altering research
outcomes is unethical.
22. Falsification: Researchers should not
manipulate research materials or omit data to
misrepresent the research.

Understanding the components of ethical research is equally crucial,
as explained below:
• Integrity: Researchers must uphold truthfulness and honesty in
their findings and adhere to moral practices during the research
process.
• Objectivity: Research work should have a well-defined and
directional objective, ensuring a focused and unbiased approach.
• Professional Competency: Researchers should possess the
necessary skills and expertise to handle, analyze, and interpret
data accurately, ensuring the true nature of the research
outcome.
• Confidentiality: The anonymity of participants should be
preserved and protected, ensuring their well-being and preventing
any potential harm in the future.
• Professional Behavior: Researchers are expected to demonstrate
professional conduct when interacting with participants,
maintaining impartiality and avoiding biases in the research
outcome.
COMPONENTS OF ETHICAL RESEARCH

Principles that guide ethical research practices include:
• Respect for Autonomy: Researchers must respect the autonomy
and rights of research participants, allowing them to make
informed decisions regarding their participation in the study.
• Beneficence: Researchers should prioritize the well-being and
welfare of participants, minimizing harm and maximizing
benefits. They must strive to do good and avoid any unnecessary
risks.
• Justice: Ethical research demands fairness and equity in
participant selection, avoiding exploitation or discrimination. It
involves considering the distribution of research burdens and
benefits across different populations.
• Fidelity and Responsibility: Researchers must recognize their
duties and actively contribute their findings for the betterment of
society as a whole.
• Participant Recruitment: The selection of participants should be
based on a logical and justified approach, considering specific
criteria for choosing one participant over others.
PRINCIPLES OF ETHICAL RESEARCH

Research Ethics, Importance, Objectives and Policies of Research Ethics

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