Ethical Guidelines in Research Ethics refers to doing what is morally and legally right in conducting research. Research ethics deals primarily with the interaction between researchers and the people they study. Ethics refers to doing what is morally and legally right in conducting research. Research ethics deals primarily with the interaction between researchers and the people they study. A researcher should be knowledgeable about what is being done, to use reasoning when making decisions; to be both intellectual and truthful in approach and reporting; and to consider the consequences, in particular, to be sure that the outcome of the research outweighs any negatives that might occur. A researcher should be knowledgeable about what is being done, to use reasoning when making decisions; to be both intellectual and truthful in approach and reporting; and to consider the consequences, in particular, to be sure that the outcome of the research outweighs any negatives that might occur.

Ethical considerations when conducting study on human subjects: Ramifications or implications of the research Ramifications or implications of the research Harm to others Harm to others Privacy Privacy Voluntary participation Voluntary participation

Ethical research criteria: Researchers’ main responsibilities: Avoid harmful research, Avoid harmful research, Be objective, Be objective, Use integrity Use integrity Protect confidentiality and privacy. Protect confidentiality and privacy.

Professional ethics deals with additional issues such as: Collaborative relationships among researchers, mentoring relationships, intellectual property, fabrication of data, and plagiarism, among others… data, and plagiarism, among others…

Any benefits derived from the research should outweigh any harm caused Any benefits derived from the research should outweigh any harm caused Researchers should balance professional integrity with respect for national and international law. Researchers should balance professional integrity with respect for national and international law. Researchers should endeavour to ensure that research is commissioned and conducted with respect for, and awareness of, gender differences Researchers should endeavour to ensure that research is commissioned and conducted with respect for, and awareness of, gender differences

Ensure that research is commissioned and conducted with respect for all groups in society, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion and culture Ensure that research is commissioned and conducted with respect for all groups in society, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion and culture Research should be commissioned and conducted with respect for under-represented social groups and that attempts are made to avoid their marginalization or exclusion. Research should be commissioned and conducted with respect for under-represented social groups and that attempts are made to avoid their marginalization or exclusion.

Ensure concerns of relevant stakeholders and user groups are addressed. Ensure concerns of relevant stakeholders and user groups are addressed. Appropriate research method should be selected on the basis of informed professional expertise. Appropriate research method should be selected on the basis of informed professional expertise. The research team must have the necessary professional expertise and support. The research team must have the necessary professional expertise and support.

Research process should not involve any unwarranted material gain or loss for any participant Research process should not involve any unwarranted material gain or loss for any participant Ensure factual accuracy and avoid falsification, fabrication, suppression or misinterpretation of data. Ensure factual accuracy and avoid falsification, fabrication, suppression or misinterpretation of data.

Research should reflect on the consequences of research engagement for all participants, and attempt to alleviate potential disadvantages to participation for any individual or category of person. Research should reflect on the consequences of research engagement for all participants, and attempt to alleviate potential disadvantages to participation for any individual or category of person. Reporting and dissemination of information should be carried out in a responsible manner. Reporting and dissemination of information should be carried out in a responsible manner.

Methodology and findings should be open for full discussion and peer review. Methodology and findings should be open for full discussion and peer review. Ethical responsibility on those conducting a peer review to perform that function in an unbiased manner, based on professional expertise and knowledge, rather than their own particular political stance or as a means of scoring points Ethical responsibility on those conducting a peer review to perform that function in an unbiased manner, based on professional expertise and knowledge, rather than their own particular political stance or as a means of scoring points

Ensure that any debts to previous research as a source of knowledge, data, concepts and methodology are fully acknowledged in all outputs. Ensure that any debts to previous research as a source of knowledge, data, concepts and methodology are fully acknowledged in all outputs. Ensure that participation in research is voluntary Ensure that participation in research is voluntary Decisions about participation in research should be made from an informed position. Decisions about participation in research should be made from an informed position.

all data are has to be treated with appropriate confidentiality and anonymity. all data are has to be treated with appropriate confidentiality and anonymity. research participants have to be protected from undue intrusion, distress, indignity, physical discomfort, personal embarrassment, or psychological or other harm. research participants have to be protected from undue intrusion, distress, indignity, physical discomfort, personal embarrassment, or psychological or other harm.

Fundamental research ethics principles Respect for persons Respect for persons Beneficence Beneficence Justice Justice

Research must follow all regulations given, and also anticipate possible ethical problems in their research. Research must follow all regulations given, and also anticipate possible ethical problems in their research. The history and development of international research ethics guidance is strongly reflective of abuses and mistakes made in the course of biomedical research. The history and development of international research ethics guidance is strongly reflective of abuses and mistakes made in the course of biomedical research.

Characteristics of an ethically valid research: Disclosure Disclosure Consent Consent Voluntariness Voluntariness Competence Competence Understanding Understanding

Why is ethics not important in research? Deception: This may be done where the subjects should not know they are being studied. Deception: This may be done where the subjects should not know they are being studied. There are instances when a researcher can conceal the true intention of the study but an in-depth justification of why the deception is necessary for the study and the steps you will take to safeguard your participants. There are instances when a researcher can conceal the true intention of the study but an in-depth justification of why the deception is necessary for the study and the steps you will take to safeguard your participants.

After the research the researcher can organize debriefing and dehoaxing procedures on the participants. This is process is the process of ‘undoing’ deception to allay a sense of generalized mistrust in research and is done by the researcher after the research explaining the real purpose and use of research and demonstrating the device that was used to deceive the participant. After the research the researcher can organize debriefing and dehoaxing procedures on the participants. This is process is the process of ‘undoing’ deception to allay a sense of generalized mistrust in research and is done by the researcher after the research explaining the real purpose and use of research and demonstrating the device that was used to deceive the participant.

Conclusion: ethics important in research. ethics important in research. Debriefing and de-hoaxing procedures on the participants after the research has been completed may not completely undo the deception and participants will form a sense of generalized mistrust in research. Debriefing and de-hoaxing procedures on the participants after the research has been completed may not completely undo the deception and participants will form a sense of generalized mistrust in research. Researchers should determine whether a research topic is ethical, what harm or risk is involved to respondents, and confidentiality and privacy Researchers should determine whether a research topic is ethical, what harm or risk is involved to respondents, and confidentiality and privacy

It is ultimately up to an individual to decide the importance of personal ethics since individuals are raised with certain ideals, identified as morals and values. It is ultimately up to an individual to decide the importance of personal ethics since individuals are raised with certain ideals, identified as morals and values. The researchers should ensure they are conducting research purely for the pursuit of knowledge ethically justifiable. The researchers should ensure they are conducting research purely for the pursuit of knowledge ethically justifiable.

References Bernard HR. Research Methods in Anthropology, Second Edition. London: Sage Publications, Bernard HR. Research Methods in Anthropology, Second Edition. London: Sage Publications, Denzin NK, Lincoln YS (Eds.). Handbook of Qualitative Research. London: Sage Publications, Denzin NK, Lincoln YS (Eds.). Handbook of Qualitative Research. London: Sage Publications, Marshall PA. Human subjects protections, institutional review boards, and cultural anthropological research. Anthropol Q 2003;76(2): Marshall PA. Human subjects protections, institutional review boards, and cultural anthropological research. Anthropol Q 2003;76(2): The Lecturer Series, LDP 603 –Research Methods: Published by University of Nairobi, Printed by the College of Education and External Studies.2008 The Lecturer Series, LDP 603 –Research Methods: Published by University of Nairobi, Printed by the College of Education and External Studies.2008