Ethics in Research

Module 10 - Reflection
HELEN Y. WEST
RES6003
SEPTEMBER 18, 2016

Ethics in Research
Ethics

Ethical Standards, Ethical Norms, Ethics Codes

Norms for conductthat distinguish between acceptable and unacceptable behavior(Resnik,

2015) .

Ethics and law differ in that ethics are social guidelines based on moral principles and values
while laws are rules and regulations that have specific penalties and consequences when
violated (Government and Politics, n.d.)
Research

Research is a systematic inquiry used to describe, explain, predict or control some observed
phenomenon - the research topic (Center for Innovation in Research and Teaching, n.d.).

It is asystematicinvestigation designed to develop or contribute

togeneralizableknowledge (San Diego State University, n.d.)

Ethics in Research

Research Ethics

The ethics of the planning, conducting, and reporting of research

(Resources for Research Ethics Education, n.d.).

Ethics in Research
Researcher Ethical Responsibilities

Responsibilities to Participants

Responsibilities to Sponsors of Research

Responsibilities to the Community of Educational Researchers

Responsibilities to Educational Professionals, Policy Makers and the

General Public

(British Educational Research Association, 2011)

Ethics in Research
Research Ethics Include:

Protections of human and animal subjects

Collection, use, and interpretation of research data

Methods for reporting and reviewing research plans or findings

Relationships among researchers with one another

Relationships between researchers and those that will be affected by their

research

Means for responding to misunderstandings, disputes, or misconduct

Options for promoting ethical conduct in research

(Resources for Research Ethics Education, n.d.).

Ethics in Research
Researcher Resources

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

National Science Foundation (NSF)

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Institutional Review Boards (IRB)

American Psychological Association (APA)

In general, the various codes of ethics address ethical principals such as

honesty, objectivity, integrity, confidentiality, social responsibility, nondiscrimination, competence, respect for colleagues, protection of humans and
animals
(Resnik, 2015)

Ethics in Research
Ethics in Statistics
Data Collection, Analysis/Interpretation, and Reporting

Avoid bias in the collection of data

Manipulating and/or hiding data

Misleading interpretations of data

Ethics in Research
The Importance of Credibility and Believability in Research Results

Reliability Refers to the repeatability of research findings

Validity Validity refers to the credibility or believability of the research

Criteria for Quantitative
Research

Alternative Criteria for

Qualitative Research

Internal validity

Credibility

External validity

Transferability

Reliability

Dependability

Objectivity

Confirmability

(Research Methods Knowledge Base, 2006)

Ethics in Research
Summary
Two rules prevail in conducting research and understanding statistical
concepts:

Rule #1 - Credibility and Reliability Conducting research with integrity,

honesty and within proper research protocol, and

Rule #2 Refer back to, learn, and activate Rule #1

Without credibility and believability, the two most critical aspects of

research, the entire research process undertaken becomes an
insignificant exercise (DeMoulin & Kritsonis, 2009).

10

Ethics in Research
References
British Educational Research Association. (2011). Ethical guidelines for educational research. London, England UK: Council
of the British Educational Research Association. Retrieved from https://www.bera.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/BERAEthical-Guidelines-2011.pdf
Center for Innovation in Research and Teaching. (n.d.). Basic research designs. Retrieved September 18, 2016, from Grand
Canyon University: https://cirt.gcu.edu/research/developmentresources/tutorials/researchdesigns
DeMoulin, D. F., & Kritsonis, W. A. (2009). Introduction to statistical concepts. In A Statistical Journey: Taming of the Skew
(p. Prologue). Murrieta, CA: The AlexisAustin Group. Retrieved from http://www.ace.edu
Government and Politics. (n.d.). What is the difference between ethics and law? Retrieved September 17, 2016, from
Government and Politics: https://www.reference.com/government-politics/difference-between-ethics-law1b772dd7ebc7cd74
Research Methods Knowledge Base. (2006, October 20). Qualitative Validity. Retrieved from Social Research Methods:
http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/qualval.php
Resnik, D. B. (2015, December 1). What is ethics in research and why is it important? Retrieved from National Institute of
Environmental Health Sciences: http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/resources/bioethics/whatis/
Resources for Research Ethics Education. (n.d.). What is research ethics? Retrieved September 17, 2016, from University
of California - San Diego: http://research-ethics.net/introduction/what/
San Diego State University. (n.d.). What is research? Retrieved September 17, 2016, from San Diego State University:
http://ori.hhs.gov/education/products/sdsu/research.htm