Ethics in Conducting Research

ETHICS IN CONDUCTING RESEARCH STUDENT NAME STUDENT ID COURSE TITLE: COURSE CODE: COURSE INSTRUCTOR: INSTITUTION: DATE: Contents  TOC \o "1-3" \h \z \u  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc319371736"
SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION  PAGEREF _Toc319371736 \h
3  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc319371737"
SECTION 2: RESEARCH ETHICS  PAGEREF _Toc319371737 \h
3  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc319371738"
SECTION 3: RESEARCH ETHICS ISSUES  PAGEREF _Toc319371738 \h
4  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc319371739"
3.1: Plagiarism  PAGEREF _Toc319371739 \h
5  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc319371740"
3.2: Risk Assessment  PAGEREF _Toc319371740 \h
6  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc319371741"
3.3: Informed Consent  PAGEREF _Toc319371741 \h
7  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc319371742"
3.4: Privacy and Confidentiality  PAGEREF _Toc319371742 \h
8  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc319371743"
3.5: Data Handling and Reporting  PAGEREF _Toc319371743 \h
8  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc319371744"
3.6: Mistakes and Negligence  PAGEREF _Toc319371744 \h
10  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc319371745"
3.7: Working with a Mentor  PAGEREF _Toc319371745 \h
11  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc319371746"
SECTION 4: CONCLUSION  PAGEREF _Toc319371746 \h
12  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc319371747"
REFERENCES  PAGEREF _Toc319371747 \h
13  SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION A dissertation manuscript is a prime publication that contains information from a new original research and facilitates peers to assess observation, repeat experiments, identify objectives and evaluate conclusion. The content in the dissertation should be original, comprehensible, significant, correct and accurate, and to achieve perfection, the manuscript should be prepared in accordance with the instruction and guideline from the mentor. A thesis paper is not the same as a dissertation manuscript; although many of the students fail to identify the thin line between them and make the mistake of mixing one with the other. The thesis paper is actually a research paper which is required for a master’s degree, where the dissertation is for doctoral candidates and a formal discussion. This paper, discusses the writing process of a dissertation manuscript of a doctoral research in order to find out its integrity to meet the ethical standards of scientific research which reveals an artistic approach, and largely depends on the quality of thinking (Brand, 2003). SECTION 2: RESEARCH ETHICS Research ethics in scientific research involves implementing basic ethical principles in the research, which includes human experimentation, scientific misconduct, animal experimentation, whistle blowing and different aspects regarding academic disgrace. The foundation of scientific research is built on ethics and trust, accepting the result by others with no doubt in mind. The society also has faith on the accuracy and honesty of the research procedure and accepts it without any bias. However, this faith would apply only if the research community dedicates itself in transmitting and exemplifying the importance regarding ethical scientific conduct (National Academy of Science, 2009). Research ethics, in most cases are conquered by principlism which has been criticized for being de-contextualized (Shaw, Petchey, Chapman and Abbott, 2009). In a research publication, the most important terms to include are, but not restricted to (Chanson, 2008): honesty, review process, ethical standard and authorship. SECTION 3: RESEARCH ETHICS ISSUES The standards for scientific research are intended to encourage and sustain expected ethical practice by the researchers. The best way to get acquainted with the ethical standards are the most recent and up to date journal editorials that present experience of corrupted activities (Mavinic, 2006; AIIAA, 2007). According to Economical and Social Research Council, every research must address the following six ethics principles: The research must be reviewed, designed and undertaken to ensure quality and integrity Research subjects and personnel must be fully aware and informed about the intention, purpose, methodologies and future potential of the research as well any possible risk Confidentiality of the supplied information and anonymity of the respondents must be valued Participants must not be forced in anyway and should be free from any coercion Any of the participants must not be harmed Independence of the research process must be transparent and should not have any conflict or explicit 3.1: Plagiarism Plagiarism is an act of copying ideas, theories, pictures, thoughts, stories, data or words from someone else without consent from the original author and using them independently. This act is a serious violation of research ethics and integrity of the whole research procedure (Smith, 1997). In addition, this is illegible and punishable under the copyright law for stealing intellectual property. Plagiarism can be used in many different ways. Someone can actually copy word to word from someone else’s work without proper citation, or taking different segment of paragraphs from different works from other authors without mentioning the original author or sources (Martin, Ohmann and Wheatley, 1969). Plagiarism is strictly forbidden and not accepted by the scientific community in dissertations and the manuscript will be subject to rejection without any doubt, even if there is any unintentional plagiarism. It is always highly recommended to credit the original author whether the work has been published or unpublished and presented verbally or written in paper or any electronic media. Even there are specific regulations for citing digital formatted information (Gibaldi, 1995; Li and Crane, 1993). 3.2: Risk Assessment Considering the versatility of methodologies used for scientific researches, the scope of risk is very wide and they need to be studied intensely to avoid any regulatory or legal provision. In a scientific research, risk refers to psychological or physical harm to the participants, generated from the research project. This is even more likely in a health related research; however, a much wider range needs to be considered by the researcher to take necessary preparation during the project. In a qualitative and longitudinal research, it is often difficult to identify all the possible risks prior to the project which needs even formal review of the ethical standards. Once the researcher identifies the risks, he or she should discuss them with the participants. According to the ethical standards for scientific research, all the participants must act voluntarily with full consent, knowing all information including all possible risks. However, in some research projects, informed consent may be meaningless; mostly in psychological researches. However, it still is required to inform the participants. If there is any chance of physical harm, the form of caution is mandatory and the research ethical committee should provide suggestions and guideline to minimize the risks to protect the participants. 3.3: Informed Consent In a research project, the subjects and staffs must be fully knowledgeable and informed about the intention, method and benefit of the research as well as their own individual role and its importance in the project as well as the possible risks. In few cases, there might be exception of this rule; however that is only for exceptional and specific research contexts and strictly monitored by the research ethical committee. This regulation underlines the use of informed consent which explains providing as much data as possible about the research procedure and risks so that the prospective contributors can take an informed decision about their involvement in the project. In most cases, the consent should be accepted in written form, signed by the participants. With few exceptions, generally, the primary objectives of the research should be clearly stated without any deception...