Research ethics

Question 1

What is research ethics?

Answer 1

Make sure that researchers follow responsible practices and participants are treated with respect and care.

For researchers its a set of ethical guidelines that guides how to conduct scientific research, especially when participants are involved as that is when ethical issues arise

Question 2

Who review wether research is ethical or not, and what do they protect?

Answer 2

Research ethics committee/Institutional Review Board (IRB) and they protect the rights, dignity and welfare of participants

Question 3

What are the three objectives of research ethics?

Answer 3

1. Protect participants dignity, rights and welfare
2. Benefit society as research should be directed in a manner that assists welfare of persons, groups and/or society
3. Ensure ethical practices by reviewing research plans and events to ensure they are ethical by minimizing risk, protecting private info and ensuring informed consent among participants

Question 4

What are the 15 ethics principles?

Answer 4

1. Honesty
2. Integrity
3. Objectivity
4. Autonomy
5. Confidentiality
6. Informed consent
7. Respect for person/respondent
8. Benefiance (välvilja)
9. Non-maleficence
10. Protecting anonymity
11. Non-discrimination
12. Openness
13. Carefulness and respect for IP
14. Justice
15. Responsible publication

Question 5

Honesty-principle

Answer 5

Being honest with beneficiaries, participants and other stakeholders, and about findings and the methodology of the research

Question 6

Integrity-principle

Answer 6

Ensuring honesty and sincerity, fulfilling agreements and promises and not creating fale expectations or making false promises

Question 7

Objectivity-principle

Answer 7

Avoiding bias in experimental design, data analysis, data interpretation, peer review and other aspects of research

Question 8

Autonomy-principle

Answer 8

Individuals right to self-determination and make decisions without interference from others

Question 9

Confidentiality-principle

Answer 9

Protecting confidential info and personnel records

Question 10

Informed consent-principle

Answer 10

Participants knowingly, voluntarily and intelligently gives consent to participate
- Related to individuals autonomous rights
- Informing participants about research objectives, their role, benefits/harm etc

Question 11

Respect for person-principle

Answer 11

Includes autonomy and requires that participants self-determination is recognized and those without/with reduced autonomy is protected

Question 12

Benefiance-principle

Answer 12

Ethical obligation to maximize benefits and minimize possible harm to participants

Question 13

Non-maleficence/protecting the subjects

Answer 13

Do no harm, minimize risk/harm, ensure privacy, autonomy and dignity

Question 14

Protecting anonymity-principle

Answer 14

Avoid revealing personal information that could identify participants

Question 15

Non-discrimination-principle

Answer 15

Treat all participants equally regardless of age, sex, race, ethnicity or other factors that are violation of human rights and are not related to the study

Question 16

Openness-principle

Answer 16

Be open to sharing results, data and other resources, and accept encouraging comments and constructive feedback

Question 17

Carefulness and respect for IP

Answer 17

Be careful about possible errors and biases, give credit to the IP of others, always paraphrase, never plagiarize, cite sources

Question 18

Justice-principle

Answer 18

Distribute benefits and burdens fairly among participants

Question 19

Responsible publication-principle

Answer 19

Publish responsibly to promote research or knowledge, don’t duplicate

Question 20

What are good practices in research ethics?

Answer 20

1. Minimizing the risk of harm
2. Obtaining informed consent
3. Protecting anonymity and confidentiality
4. Avoiding misleading practices
5. Protection of vulnerable groups of people
6. Skills of the researcher

Question 21

Minimizing the risk of harm

Answer 21

Researcher/data collector should
- Obtain informed consent
Protect anonymity and confidentiality
- Avoid misleading practices when planning research
- Provide participants with the right to withdraw

Examples of harm
- Bodily harm
- Psychological harm and embarrassment
- Social drawback
. Violation of confidentiality and privacy

Question 22

Obtaining informed consent

Answer 22

Participants should be well-informed about
- Introduction and objective of research
- Purpose of discussion
- Anticipated advantages, benefits/harm
- Use of research
- Their role in the research
- Methods used to protect anonymity and confidentiality
- Freedom to not answer questions
- Who to contact if additional info is wanted

Question 23

Protecting anonymity and confidentiality

Answer 23

• Keeping participants anonymous by not revealing any info that may reveal their identity
• Maintaining confidentiality by ensuring that info given by participants is confidential and not shared with anyone expect research team

Question 24

Avoiding misleading practices

Answer 24

• Researcher should not be deceptive or mislead/misinform the participants
• Participants have the right to withdraw at any point

Question 25

Protection of vulnerable groups of people

Answer 25

People incapable of protecting their moralities and well-being are vulnerable and should be protected
- Vulnerable groups include mentally ill, aged people, critically ill or dying, poor, learning incapacities, students, detainees, etc

Question 26

Skills of the researcher

Answer 26

Include basic skills and familiarity for the specific study to be carried out, be conscious with lack of personal competence
- Any lack of knowledge must be clearly specified
- Inexperienced researchers should work under qualified supervision that has to be revised by an ethics commitee

Question 27

What are engineering ethics?

Answer 27

Engineers are expected to exhibit the highest standards of honesty and integrity, and engineering ethics are thus a set of rules and standards governing conduct of engineers.