Lecture 3: moral philosophy, axiology, ethical research

Question 1

A social constructionist is a realist/idealist but also nomothetic/ideolgraphic? put in the correct words

Answer 1

idealist/realist but also ideographic (more subjective, highlights the event, unique elements of individual phenomena).

Question 2

Explain the 4 normative moral models for research?

Answer 2

• Virtuous model (Aristotle)
• Deontological model (Kant)
• Utilitarian model (Bentham)
• Feminism: care ethics

Question 3

What are characteristics of the virtuous model?

Answer 3

• If you are a good person  good researcher
• If everyone is virtuous, everyone is researchers, all research would then be virtuous and good.
• Neo-liberal model: emphasis is on the individual
• What does it mean to be a good person? A virtuous one?
  o Differs per perspective
• What then is a good researcher?
• Concerns: meaning of being virtuous can change from one person to the next.
• Concerns: What is you are sick, poor and need to take care of yourself

Question 4

What are characteristics of the deontological model (Kant)?

Answer 4

Rules and laws are needed to govern our actions and behaviors.
* Ends never justify means (morally bad decisions must not be taken to achieve goals)
* Not our individuality but rather, society’s moral code that dictates individual actions
* All research practices are going to be done in a few ethical ways, full stop.
* Universal code of ethics for research needed

• Concern: no consideration for context and consequences.

Question 5

What are characteristics of the Utilitarianism model?

Answer 5

• Focuses on outcomes, ends do justify the means
  o Lying is okay if it makes the person feel better
• What is an ethical behaviour  choice or action that produces the greatest good for the greatest number.
• Which actions lead to ‘good’?
  o Least cost and greatest benefit. Maximization
• Concerns:
  o can we always predict that our actions will lead to the greatest good?
  o People can have different ways about what is good and what is a limited cost.

Question 6

Explain the difference between ethics and morals.

Answer 6

Ethics deal with actions (often with regulation), while morals are about principles/beliefs of right or wrong.

Question 7

What is ethical governance for?

Answer 7

Estabishing a code. To improve ethical guidelines so they reflect a deeper set of moral principles.

Question 8

What was the Belmonst Report from 1978 for?

Answer 8

1. Principle of respect for persons: ethical code: informed consent
2. Principle of beneficence (well being of participants). Ethical code: no harm participants
3. Principle of justice. Ethical code: informed consent

Question 9

Tell about the care model: feminism ethical codes.

Answer 9

• moral dilemmas are often context-specific and highly relational
• To figure out the ‘right, moral action’ thus requires dialogue and flexibility.

Concerns: what if dialogue doesn’t lead to moral solutions. What if time doesn’t allow for such dialogue?

Question 10

What are indigenous ethical principles?

Answer 10

It’s about knowledge belonging to everyone. Co-learning and knowledge co-production.

With co-ownership participants have partial or complete ownership of the research process.

Question 11

What is the New Brunswick Declaration from 2012?

Answer 11

Principles more so than an ethical code. Emphasis here is on education more so than regulation.

Question 12

What is relevant with axiological assumptions of your research?

Answer 12

What values are reflected in my research? Are they my values or do I consciously or unconciously operate under other values?