Ch. 6 - Ethics In Research Flashcards
3 Major Ethical Approaches
- Deontological
- Ethical skepticism
- Utilitarianism
Deontological Approach to Ethics
Judges ethical issues on the basis of some universal code, a higher set of principles.
Deon = Greek for duty or obligation.
It is ones duty to follow this code without variation.
Ethical Skepticism Approach to Ethics
Ethical decisions are a matter of each individual’s conscience.
Ethical rules are arbitrary and relative to individual people and cultures.
Utilitarianism
Judgements should depend on consequences the study might have, including benefits and costs.
Approach typically used in research.
Can include consideration of ideas from deontological and ethical skepticism approaches.
Ethical Concerns
- Relationship between society and science
- Should societal concerns and values direct research?
- Who should decide what research is funded and conducted? - Professional issues:
- Research misconduct such as falsifying, fabricating, and plagarizing
- Misconduct - Nonpersonal: pressure to publish, get grants
- Misconduct - Personal: psychological state
- Misconduct Deterrants - ethical guidelines, IRB, integrity, morality - Treatment of Research Participants
- Minimize psychological and physical harm
- Maximize benefits
Ethical Guidelines
Several organizations have established a set of ethical guidelines for research:
- American Educational Research Association
- American Psychological Association
- Others
Informed Consent
Agreeing to participate after being informed of all aspects of study that might effect willingness to participate. Eg, purpose, procedures, risks, benefits, alternative procedures, limits to confidentiality
When study involves minimal risk, informed consent sometimes waived if:
- participation is anonymous
- cultural norms preclude getting it
- signing form would subject person to legal, social or economic risk
- decision about this is made by IRB
Informed Consent Form Content
- Purpose and Description - Purpose of study with description of procedures to follow and time required for participant to complete study
- Risks - Description of physical or psychological risks or discomforts
- Benefits - Description of benefits the participant or others might expect
- Alternatives - Description of any alternative procedure or treatment that might be of benefit to participant
- Confidentiality - Statement of the extent to which results will be kept confidential
- Contacts - Names of people the participant can contact with questions about research or rights
- Voluntary - Statement indicating participation is voluntary and participant can withdraw at any time with no penalty
- Payment - Statement of the amount and schedule of payment if any
- Easily Understandable - Information should be written at an eight-grade level, in certain cases sixth-grade level
Informed Consent for Minors
Consent is required from parent or legal guardian.
Assent must also be obtained from minor.
Assent - minor agrees to participate after being informed of all aspects of the study that might affect willingness to participate.
Active Consent
Reading and signing the consent form.
Best to use in most cases.
Passive Consent
Consent by not returning the form.
Eg, form says return only if minor cannot participate
Additional Consent
School research:
- Teachers
- Principals
- Superintendent
Often required by IRB prior to study approval.
Deception
Researcher provides misleading info or withholds info from participant about nature of study.
- Violates principle of informed consent.
- Ethical standards recognize that it has to be used in some studies.
- Should not use any more devotion than needed to conduct valid study.
Debriefing
Post-study interview explaining all aspects of study including purpose and deception, and to discuss any questions.
Goals:
- Dehoaxing - debrief participants about reasons for deception and reasons for its attempt to restore trust
- Desensitizing - attempt to eliminate any stress or undesirable feelings created by study, explain that their behaviour is normal
Freedom to Withdraw
Participants have right to withdraw at any time.
Accomplishing this means assuring no coercive pressure to participate is felt by participants.
Special consideration must be given to minors to ensure no coercive pressure is felt.
Protection from Mental and Physical Harm
Usually not an issue in educational research.
Qualitative research has features that might exclude it from being exempt from IRB oversight:
- Intimacy
- Open-endedness
Privacy
Controlling others access to information about you.
Anonymity
The identity of participants is not known to the researcher.
Confidentiality
Only the research investigators know the identity of participants.
May be legal requirement about when it must be breached - such as child abuse, neglect, harm to self or others.
IRB
Institutional Review Board
Ethical standards review of proposed research
Reviews studies for ethical acceptability
Researcher must submit IRB Protocol for review by IRB
Example IRB Protocol
Exhibit 6.6 - Example of a Research Protocol Submitted to IRB
Title of Protocol Primary Investigator Co-Investigator Relevant Background and Purpose Participant Population Materials and Procedure - Overview - Questionnaires - Experimental Tasks - Instructional Formats Design and Methodology Potential Benefit Risks Confidentiality Signatures - Primary Investigator, Dept. Chairperson Dates
Ethics
Principles and guidelines that help us uphold the things we value
Categories of IRB Review
- Exempt - From certain requirements and full committee review. Determined by IRB, not researcher.
- Expedited - Rapid review by several IRB members. Typically studies involving:
- no more than minimal risk
- data collected for non- research purposes (records)
- data collected from videos, images, audio for research purposes
- surveys, interviews, other minimal risk situations - Full Board Review
IRB Exempt Categories
Table 6.4 -Exempt Categories
- Research conducted in established educational settings involving normal educational practices, such as:
a. Research on regular or special Ed. Instructional strategies
b. Research on effectiveness of or comparison among instructional techniques, curricula, or classroom mgmt. methods - Research involving use of educational tests (cognitive, diagnostic, aptitude, achievement), survey procedures, interview procedures, or observation of public behavior, unless:
a. Information obtained is recorded in such a manner that the participants can be identified, directly or through identifiers linked to participants, and
b. Any disclosure of the participants responses outside the research could reasonably place the participants at risk of criminal or civil liability or be damaging to the participants financial standing, employability, or reputation - Research involving use of educational tests (cognitive, diagnostic, aptitude, achievement), survey procedures, interview procedures, or observation of public behavior that is not exempt under 2 above if:
a. Participants are elected or appointed public officials or candidates for public office, or
b. Federal states require without exception that the confidentiality of the personally identifiable information will be maintained throughout the research and thereafter - Research involving collection or study of existing data, documents, records, pathological specimens, or diagnostic specimens if these sources are publicly available or if the information is recorded by the investigator in such a manner that participants cannot be identified, directly or through identifiers linked to participants
- Research and demonstration projects that are conducted by or subject to the approval of department or agency heads and that are designed to study, evaluate or examine:
a. Public benefit or service programs
b. Procedures for obtaining benefits or services under those programs
c. Possible changes in or alternatives to those programs or procedures, or
d. Possible changes in methods or levels of payment for benefits or services under those programs
Ethical Issues in Electronic Research
Informed Consent:
- Is it necessary?
- What is public and private?
- How obtain consent?
Maintaining privacy and confidentiality can be difficult.
Debriefing might be needed just as in other research.
Ethical Issues in Preparing the Research Report
Authorship - identifying individuals responsible for research (who makes substantial contribution)
Writing the research report:
- Plagarism- self and others
- Short vs. long quotations are quoted differently. Short uses quote marks, long uses block indentation technique
