1. Research
Raymond Martin
Methodologies

2. Lecture #3
Ethics in Research

3. What is Ethics?
From the Greek word ethos which means habitual or customary conduct
Used interchangeably with morality
How we determine right from wrong
How to rightly use research techniques

4. Who decides what is ethical?
Religion?
Society?
Personal Choice?

5. Philosophical and Theological Basis
Theology – Based on religious tradition and sacred texts
Philosophy – Ethics defined independent of religious faith
Both concerned with how to proceed in moral and acceptable ways.

6. Code of Ethics?
The American Psychological Association has formulated an Ethics Code
American Sociological Association
UTECH has an ethics committee

7. Ethics in Research
There are three broad areas of ethical concern in scientific research:
The ethics of data collection and analysis
The ethics of responsibility to society
The ethics of treatment of participants

8. Ethics of data collection and analysis
Scientists must be honest in their observations and analyses
Must be willing to admit error
Must place the pursuit of knowledge above personal gain or the promotion of a particular philosophy

9. What harm is there in falsifying data?

10. Relationship between Science and Society
Scientists should promote use of research to benefit society
Scientists should speak out against destructive application

11. Treatment of Human Subjects?
Subjects should be treated with respect and protected from harm

12. Ethics Code Protection from Harm
Protection of participants from harm
injury, embarrassment, stress
Participants should be advised of any discomfort before the study
Sign consent document

13. Ethics Code Protection from Harm
Can you always predict harm?
What about weighing potential harm against the benefits?

14. APA Ethics Code Informed Consent
Participants should be told the nature of the study
Choice to participate or not participate - voluntary
Informing may affect study
Debriefing important

15. APA Ethics Code Right to Privacy
Researcher should respect participants right to privacy
Any information collected on participant should be kept strictly confidential
Pseudonym used if behaviour described in report

16. APA Ethics Code Plagiarism
What is it?

17. APA Ethics Code Plagiarism
Intellectual property rights