Research Ethics Dr Andrew Armitage

Morals or ethics? Morals: –Of, pertaining to, or concerned with the principles or rules of right conduct or the distinction between right and wrong; ethical: moral attitudes. –Expressing or conveying truths or counsel as to right conduct, as a speaker or a literary work; moralizing: a moral novel. –Founded on the fundamental principles of right conduct rather than on legalities, enactment, or custom: moral obligations. –Capable of conforming to the rules of right conduct: a moral being. –Conforming to the rules of right conduct ( opposed to immoral): a moral person. –Virtuous in sexual matters; chaste. –Of, pertaining to, or acting on the mind, feelings, will, or character: moral support. –Ethics: Underpinned by value systems

Morals or ethics? Ethics: –A system of moral principles: the ethics of a culture. –The rules of conduct recognized in respect to a particular class of human actions or a particular group, culture, etc.: medical ethics; Christian ethics. –Moral principles, as of an individual: His ethics forbade betrayal of a confidence. –That branch of philosophy dealing with values relating to human conduct, with respect to the rightness and wrongness of certain actions and to the goodness and badness of the motives and ends of such actions.

Ethical considerations and the research process Ethics always involves people – the research process is no different. ‘Ethics is born in the presence of the other’ (Umberto Eco in Belief or Nonbelief). Ethics is set within political, social, and cultural contexts The research process should be seen, or perhaps called a “process of personal engagement” – between you and others: Why, Who, What, Where, When, How NAPP – You should keep this in mind at all stages of the research process: Negotiation, Access, Power, Politics The research process involves you making decisions at various/critical points in the research process.

Ethical considerations and the research process Research design - Is the road map that we devise/design to navigate the research journey from start to finish. –It starts immediately that we formulation of the research problem and questions and finishes after the dissemination of the findings. –The research design is the road map for us to conduct a research study Methodology – Is the personal engagement with the research environment, and is related to how we see the world through our: –Ontological lens – what we believe in –Epistemological lens – what we accept as valid knowledge –Axiological lens – what our personal values are –Conceptual framework – how we conceptualise our problem/research issues

Ethical considerations and the research process Research methods - Is the way we collect data from the research environment/field Findings – Is the way we deal with, and present our data Interpretations and discussions – Is the way we make sense of our findings Conclusions – Are our claims to “truth”, new insights, and new knowledge. Dissemination: Concerns where we will/are to distribute our findings

Why do we need research ethics? To protect the vulnerable To ensure transparency To ensure equitable treatment of those taking part To ensure that we meet our duty of care to those we do research on/with To ensure we comply to National, European, and International law, and regulations

Some approaches to research ethics? Ethical positions: –Absolutism –Relativism Ethical perspectives: –Duty ethics – Deontological –Utilitarianism – Consequential –Virtue ethics – Ethic of human character –Disclosure ethics –Professional ethics –Organisational ethics

Some approaches to research ethics? Applied ethics: –Medical ethics –Business ethics –Environmental ethics –Animal ethics –Social ethics –Political ethics

What might constitute unethical practices? Collecting data without prior consent Revealing participants’’ names in reports without their knowledge Doing a study without first getting permission Abusing information provided by participant – breach of The Equality Act 2010 (formerly DDA 2005) and DPA 1998 Not informing parents/guardians that you are doing research with their child(ren) Taking bodily samples without consent Damaging the environment Pushing respondents too far in interview/focus group situations Doing observations undercover Harming and inflicting pain on animals, and non-sentient beings

What constitutes ethical conduct? Dignity Confidentiality Honesty Transparency Openness Autonomous Informed consent Not misrepresenting anyone – written, verbally, or via observation

Ethical research: A practical response Ethical decision making: Remember ethical decisions are always made within within political, social, and cultural contexts Uses a combination of ethical perspectives: –Duty ethics: Is my intended act the right one to take for the given context? –Utilitarianism : What will be the consequences of my actions? –Virtue ethics: Will actions and consequences of my an action diminish, degrade, harm, and humiliate those it effects? –Disclosure ethics: Who should I confide in to take advice regarding my actions? –Professional ethics: Will the action transgress my professional responsibilities, and codes of conduct? –Organisational ethics: Will my action result in reputational damage for the organisation? Will my action transgress any organisational codes of practice?

Ethical research: A practical response The consent form: –Provide the identity of the researcher(s) –Give full, and explicit information to organisations, and those taking part in the research –Expectations of participants, and their role –The right to withdraw consent –Confidentiality and security of data –Get the signature if the participant, and date – plus research must course sign as well