RESEARCH ETHICS
AND NORMS
Ethics and norms are related
concepts, but they have distinct
meanings and implications,
especially in the context of research
and broader social behavior.
Ethics
Definition: Ethics refers to a system of moral principles that
govern the behavior of individuals and organizations. It is
concerned with what is right and wrong, good and bad, fair and
unfair.
Application: In research, ethics involves guidelines like
obtaining informed consent, ensuring confidentiality, avoiding
harm to participants, and maintaining honesty in reporting
results. Ethical considerations are often formalized in codes of
conduct and require adherence to specific rules and regulations.
Norms
• Definition: Norms refer to the shared expectations and rules
that guide behavior within a specific group, community, or society.
They are the standards of behavior that are considered acceptable or
typical within a particular context.
• • Application: In research, norms might include practices
like how researchers collaborate, share data, or credit contributions.
For example, the norm of peer review is widely accepted in
academic publishing, even though it's not necessarily an ethical
obligation. Norms can also include traditions like attending
conferences or publishing in certain journals.
ETHICS OR NORM
1. "Wearing formal attire to a business meeting is expected.“
2. "Employees must disclose conflicts of interest to maintain fairness in decision-
making."
3. "Offering a handshake when greeting someone in certain cultures is considered
polite."
4. "Misleading customers about product quality violates trust and integrity."
5. "It is customary to celebrate national holidays with fireworks in some countries."
6. "Discrimination based on race or gender is unjust and should be avoided."
7. "Standing in line and waiting for your turn is the proper way to behave in a queue."
8. "Environmental conservation efforts are necessary to ensure the planet’s
sustainability."
9. "Using professional titles when addressing colleagues is standard in the workplace."
10."Plagiarism is unacceptable because it violates intellectual property rights and
integrity."
RESEARCH
ETHICS
Research ethics refers to the principles and
guidelines that help ensure the integrity, honesty,
and professionalism of the research process.
These principles are essential for safeguarding
the rights and well-being of research participants,
maintaining the trust of the public in research,
and promoting the validity and credibility of
research findings.
CORE PRINCIPLES
OF RESEARCH
ETHICS
 Respect for Persons (Autonomy):
o Informed Consent: Researchers must ensure that participants are
fully informed about the nature, purpose, and potential risks of the
research before they agree to participate. Informed consent involves
providing clear and understandable information to participants and
obtaining their voluntary agreement to participate.
o Confidentiality: The privacy of participants must be protected.
Researchers are responsible for ensuring that personal information is
kept confidential and that data is anonymized wherever possible to
prevent identification of participants.
Beneficence:
Maximizing Benefits: Research should aim to maximize
potential benefits for participants and society. This principle
encourages researchers to conduct studies that have the
potential to contribute positively to the well-being of
individuals and communities.
Minimizing Harm: Researchers must take steps to minimize
any potential harm to participants. This includes assessing
risks, avoiding unnecessary discomfort or distress, and
ensuring that the research does not negatively impact
participants' lives.
Justice:
Fairness in Participant Selection: The selection of research
participants should be based on fair criteria. Researchers
should avoid exploiting vulnerable populations and ensure
that the benefits and burdens of research are distributed
equitably.
Equitable Access to Benefits: The benefits of research should
be made available to all segments of society, particularly
those who have been involved in the research. This includes
sharing findings in ways that are accessible and useful to
participants.
ETHICAL
CONSIDERATIONS IN
RESEARCH
Honesty and Integrity:
Researchers must conduct their work with
honesty and integrity. This includes
reporting data accurately, avoiding
fabrication or falsification of results, and
acknowledging the contributions of others
appropriately.
Avoiding Plagiarism:
Researchers must give credit to the
original sources of ideas, data, or
research findings. Plagiarism, or the
act of presenting someone else's work
as your own, is a serious ethical
violation.
Responsible Publication:
Researchers should publish their work in a way
that is truthful, transparent, and contributes to
the body of knowledge. This includes avoiding
redundant publication (publishing the same
findings in multiple places) and being mindful
of the potential impact of their work on the
public and the scientific community.
Conflict of Interest:
Researchers must disclose any potential
conflicts of interest that could affect the
interpretation or outcome of their
research. Conflicts of interest can arise
from financial ties, personal relationships,
or other situations where the researcher’s
impartiality might be compromised
Collaboration and Collegiality:
Ethical research involves collaboration
and respect among colleagues. This
includes properly acknowledging
contributions, sharing data
responsibly, and engaging in
constructive peer review.
ETHICALAPPROVAL
AND OVERSIGHT
Institutional Review Boards (IRBs): Many research
projects, especially those involving human participants,
require approval from an Institutional Review Board (IRB)
or an equivalent ethics committee. These boards review
research proposals to ensure that ethical standards are
met and that participants are protected.
Ongoing Monitoring: Research ethics is not a one-time
consideration. Researchers must continually monitor
their work to ensure that it remains ethical throughout
the project. This includes being responsive to any new
risks or issues that arise during the research process.
RESEARCH
NORMS
Transparency: Researchers should be open about their methods,
data, and findings. Transparency allows others to verify results,
replicate studies, and build on previous work.
Reproducibility: The ability of other researchers to replicate the
results of a study is a cornerstone of scientific integrity.
Researchers should provide enough detail about their methods
and data to allow others to reproduce their findings.
Accountability: Researchers are accountable to their peers,
participants, and the broader society. They should be prepared
to explain and justify their research decisions and be willing to
take responsibility for their actions.
Respect for Intellectual Property: Researchers should
respect the intellectual property rights of others,
including patents, copyrights, and proprietary data.
Proper attribution and permission are required when
using the work of others.
Social Responsibility: Researchers have a responsibility to
consider the broader implications of their work. This
includes reflecting on how their research might affect
society, the environment, or future generations.
CHALLENGES IN
RESEARCH ETHICS
Balancing Risks and Benefits: One of the biggest challenges in research
ethics is balancing the potential benefits of the research with the risks to
participants. This requires careful consideration and often involves difficult
decisions.
Ethical Dilemmas: Researchers may encounter situations where ethical
principles conflict, such as the need to protect participant confidentiality
while also reporting accurate data. Navigating these dilemmas requires
thoughtful reflection and guidance from ethical frameworks or oversight
bodies.
Cultural Sensitivity: Research often involves participants from diverse
cultural backgrounds. Researchers must be sensitive to cultural norms and
values, ensuring that their research is respectful and appropriate in
different cultural contexts.

Research-Ethics_ Research-II.

  • 1.
  • 2.
    Ethics and normsare related concepts, but they have distinct meanings and implications, especially in the context of research and broader social behavior.
  • 3.
    Ethics Definition: Ethics refersto a system of moral principles that govern the behavior of individuals and organizations. It is concerned with what is right and wrong, good and bad, fair and unfair. Application: In research, ethics involves guidelines like obtaining informed consent, ensuring confidentiality, avoiding harm to participants, and maintaining honesty in reporting results. Ethical considerations are often formalized in codes of conduct and require adherence to specific rules and regulations.
  • 4.
    Norms • Definition: Normsrefer to the shared expectations and rules that guide behavior within a specific group, community, or society. They are the standards of behavior that are considered acceptable or typical within a particular context. • • Application: In research, norms might include practices like how researchers collaborate, share data, or credit contributions. For example, the norm of peer review is widely accepted in academic publishing, even though it's not necessarily an ethical obligation. Norms can also include traditions like attending conferences or publishing in certain journals.
  • 5.
    ETHICS OR NORM 1."Wearing formal attire to a business meeting is expected.“ 2. "Employees must disclose conflicts of interest to maintain fairness in decision- making." 3. "Offering a handshake when greeting someone in certain cultures is considered polite." 4. "Misleading customers about product quality violates trust and integrity." 5. "It is customary to celebrate national holidays with fireworks in some countries." 6. "Discrimination based on race or gender is unjust and should be avoided." 7. "Standing in line and waiting for your turn is the proper way to behave in a queue." 8. "Environmental conservation efforts are necessary to ensure the planet’s sustainability." 9. "Using professional titles when addressing colleagues is standard in the workplace." 10."Plagiarism is unacceptable because it violates intellectual property rights and integrity."
  • 6.
  • 7.
    Research ethics refersto the principles and guidelines that help ensure the integrity, honesty, and professionalism of the research process. These principles are essential for safeguarding the rights and well-being of research participants, maintaining the trust of the public in research, and promoting the validity and credibility of research findings.
  • 8.
  • 9.
     Respect forPersons (Autonomy): o Informed Consent: Researchers must ensure that participants are fully informed about the nature, purpose, and potential risks of the research before they agree to participate. Informed consent involves providing clear and understandable information to participants and obtaining their voluntary agreement to participate. o Confidentiality: The privacy of participants must be protected. Researchers are responsible for ensuring that personal information is kept confidential and that data is anonymized wherever possible to prevent identification of participants.
  • 10.
    Beneficence: Maximizing Benefits: Researchshould aim to maximize potential benefits for participants and society. This principle encourages researchers to conduct studies that have the potential to contribute positively to the well-being of individuals and communities. Minimizing Harm: Researchers must take steps to minimize any potential harm to participants. This includes assessing risks, avoiding unnecessary discomfort or distress, and ensuring that the research does not negatively impact participants' lives.
  • 11.
    Justice: Fairness in ParticipantSelection: The selection of research participants should be based on fair criteria. Researchers should avoid exploiting vulnerable populations and ensure that the benefits and burdens of research are distributed equitably. Equitable Access to Benefits: The benefits of research should be made available to all segments of society, particularly those who have been involved in the research. This includes sharing findings in ways that are accessible and useful to participants.
  • 12.
  • 13.
    Honesty and Integrity: Researchersmust conduct their work with honesty and integrity. This includes reporting data accurately, avoiding fabrication or falsification of results, and acknowledging the contributions of others appropriately.
  • 14.
    Avoiding Plagiarism: Researchers mustgive credit to the original sources of ideas, data, or research findings. Plagiarism, or the act of presenting someone else's work as your own, is a serious ethical violation.
  • 15.
    Responsible Publication: Researchers shouldpublish their work in a way that is truthful, transparent, and contributes to the body of knowledge. This includes avoiding redundant publication (publishing the same findings in multiple places) and being mindful of the potential impact of their work on the public and the scientific community.
  • 16.
    Conflict of Interest: Researchersmust disclose any potential conflicts of interest that could affect the interpretation or outcome of their research. Conflicts of interest can arise from financial ties, personal relationships, or other situations where the researcher’s impartiality might be compromised
  • 17.
    Collaboration and Collegiality: Ethicalresearch involves collaboration and respect among colleagues. This includes properly acknowledging contributions, sharing data responsibly, and engaging in constructive peer review.
  • 18.
  • 19.
    Institutional Review Boards(IRBs): Many research projects, especially those involving human participants, require approval from an Institutional Review Board (IRB) or an equivalent ethics committee. These boards review research proposals to ensure that ethical standards are met and that participants are protected. Ongoing Monitoring: Research ethics is not a one-time consideration. Researchers must continually monitor their work to ensure that it remains ethical throughout the project. This includes being responsive to any new risks or issues that arise during the research process.
  • 20.
  • 21.
    Transparency: Researchers shouldbe open about their methods, data, and findings. Transparency allows others to verify results, replicate studies, and build on previous work. Reproducibility: The ability of other researchers to replicate the results of a study is a cornerstone of scientific integrity. Researchers should provide enough detail about their methods and data to allow others to reproduce their findings. Accountability: Researchers are accountable to their peers, participants, and the broader society. They should be prepared to explain and justify their research decisions and be willing to take responsibility for their actions.
  • 22.
    Respect for IntellectualProperty: Researchers should respect the intellectual property rights of others, including patents, copyrights, and proprietary data. Proper attribution and permission are required when using the work of others. Social Responsibility: Researchers have a responsibility to consider the broader implications of their work. This includes reflecting on how their research might affect society, the environment, or future generations.
  • 23.
  • 24.
    Balancing Risks andBenefits: One of the biggest challenges in research ethics is balancing the potential benefits of the research with the risks to participants. This requires careful consideration and often involves difficult decisions. Ethical Dilemmas: Researchers may encounter situations where ethical principles conflict, such as the need to protect participant confidentiality while also reporting accurate data. Navigating these dilemmas requires thoughtful reflection and guidance from ethical frameworks or oversight bodies. Cultural Sensitivity: Research often involves participants from diverse cultural backgrounds. Researchers must be sensitive to cultural norms and values, ensuring that their research is respectful and appropriate in different cultural contexts.