This document discusses basic principles of research ethics including theories of ethics, principles of privacy, confidentiality, consent, and considerations for informed consent. It emphasizes obtaining informed consent from subjects by providing relevant information, ensuring understanding, and making participation voluntary. The document also covers ethical use of source materials by avoiding plagiarism, quoting accurately, and carefully acknowledging all quotations.

1. BASIC
PRINCIPLES
OF
RESEARCH
ETHICS

2. ETHICS
refers to the
standards on what is
morally right or
wrong.

3. DEONTOLOGICAL
THEORY
“Morals ought to be
based on obligations
to others.”

4. CONSEQUENTIALIST
THEORY
People should seek to act in
accordance with the
consequences of their
behavior and minimize
suffering and maximize well
being.

5. Basic Ethical
Principles
(Burnham, Gilland, Grant and
Layton-Henry (2004)

6. PRIVACY OR
AUTONOMY
Individuals have a right to
limit access to information
about themselves.

7. CONFIDENTIALITY
Closely related to the
notion of privacy, the right
to control the use of
information about
themselves.

8. CONSENT
The notion of informed
consent is often
recommended as an
operational principle for the
conduct of research.

9. Ethical procedures can be
clarified by consulting
ethical guidelines of
professional associations
putting emphasis in
informed consent.

10. CERTAIN
CONSIDERATIONS
ABOUT INFORMED
CONSENT
(Silverman, 2001)

11. • Giving information about the
research which is relevant
to the subjects’ decision
whether to participate or
not;
• Making sure that subjects
understand the information;
• Ensuring that participation is
voluntary

12. ETHICAL USE OF
SOURCE
MATERIAL
(Silverman, 2001)

13. AVOID PLAGIARISM
Plagiarism includes quoting
directly and paraphrasing
without acknowledging the
sources and constructing a
paraphrase that closely
resembles the original
language.

14. QUOTE
ACCURATELY
Quote directly from a
source when the original
language is distinctive
enough to enhance your
agreement and rewording
would lessen its impact.

15. ACKNOWLEDGE
QUOTATIONS
CAREFULLY
Failing to signal the
presence of a quotation
skillfully can lead to
confussion.

16. • Ensuring that
participation is voluntary