Statistical Fundamentals: Using Microsoft Excel for Univariate and Bivariate Analysis Alfred P. Rovai Data Ethics PowerPoint Prepared by Alfred P. Rovai Presentation © 2013 by Alfred P. Rovai Microsoft® Excel® Screen Prints Courtesy of Microsoft Corporation.

Copyright 2013 by Alfred P. Rovai Ethics Ethics is the study of right and wrong. Data ethics represent the application of social and individual moral values and professional standards to collecting human subjects data, analyzing such data, and reporting findings. Adhering to ethical standards helps keep one not only moral but also within the law. Although the application of data ethics vary somewhat by profession, e.g., business, health services, and education, there are elements of commonality across all professions.

Statistician’s Responsibilities Copyright 2013 by Alfred P. Rovai 1. Identifies and discloses conflicts of interest. 2. Promotes quality by maintaining competency in statistical methods and uses only appropriate statistical procedures. 3. Respects differences of opinion. 4. Obtains Institutional Review Board (IRB) review and approval of the research protocol before any data are collected. 5. Obtains informed consent from all research participants prior to data collection. 6. Maintains awareness of and follows applicable statutes and regulations. 7. Acknowledges the contributions and intellectual property of others. 8. Ensures data collection, analysis, and reporting reflect the unbiased search for truth.

1. Identifies and discloses conflicts of interest. Copyright 2013 by Alfred P. Rovai Remains alert to conflicts that can arise at anytime. Discloses conflicts to all relevant people in a timely and effective manner. Takes action to mitigate the conflict. Removes any perception of private benefit.

2. Promotes quality by maintaining competency in statistical methods and uses only appropriate statistical procedures. Copyright 2013 by Alfred P. Rovai Keeps informed. Uses the latest statistical methods. Evaluates test assumptions and reports the results. Selects and uses the best statistical test.

3. Respects differences of opinion. Copyright 2013 by Alfred P. Rovai Identifies and reports differences of opinion. Recognizes that differences of opinion do not necessarily represent error. Shows respect for different opinions. Manifests courtesy toward other researchers.

4. Obtains Institutional Review Board (IRB) review and approval of the research protocol before any data are collected. Copyright 2013 by Alfred P. Rovai Involves obtaining data through intervention or interaction or obtaining identifiable private information. All human subjects research must receive approval from the IRB. A research protocol may qualify for exemption if it meets certain criteria. A research protocol that does not qualify for exemption may be eligible for expedited review.

5. Obtains informed consent from all research participants prior to data collection. Copyright 2013 by Alfred P. Rovai Founded on the principle of respect for persons. Discloses to potential research subjects information needed to make an informed decision. Facilitates the understanding of what has been disclosed. Promotes the voluntariness of the decision about whether or not to participate in the research.

6. Maintains awareness of and follows applicable statutes and regulations. Copyright 2013 by Alfred P. Rovai Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) Informed consent of a child (under 18) generally also requires parental permission

7. Acknowledges the contributions and intellectual property of others. Copyright 2013 by Alfred P. Rovai Properly cites the work of others Provides proper authorship credit Follows copyright law in getting permission to reproduce work Provides adequate credit and avoids plagiarism

8. Ensures data collection, analysis, and reporting reflect the unbiased search for truth. Copyright 2013 by Alfred P. Rovai Collects data in an objective manner Avoids falsification, fabrication, and use of unorthodox methods Reports adequate statistics to include negative as well as positive results Clearly identifies all study limitations and weaknesses

Copyright 2013 by Alfred P. Rovai 1. Be proactive in preventing the occurrence of ethical problems 2. Cope with ethical problems as they arise Approaches to Ethical Problems

Copyright 2013 by Alfred P. Rovai Preventing Problems Study previous ethical problems. Participate in education and training programs that address ethical issues in one’s discipline and profession Maintain situational awareness during the course of planning, data collecting, analysis, and reporting Avoid pressuring research participants Respect confidentiality and privacy Follow the Hippocratic dictum: First do no harm Tap into ethics codes governing one’s profession, e.g., American Educational Research Association, American Psychological Association, etc.

Copyright 2013 by Alfred P. Rovai Dealing with Problems Speak up about ethical problems Identify issues and parties involved Consult with colleagues, peers, and stakeholders Identify options, analyze options in terms of moral principles, consider consequences, arrive at a decision, and act with commitment Maintain situational awareness during the course of planning, data collecting, analysis, and reporting

Copyright 2013 by Alfred P. Rovai Statistics cannot compensate for the negative impacts of persisting in a faulty line of research using a faulty research design

Data Ethics End of Presentation Copyright 2013 by Alfred P. Rovai