Ethical Principles Governing Research Practices

Student No. 581360

The Aga Khan University, Nairobi

In Partial Fulfillment of Acquiring a BScM degree

Course: Research 1

Faculty: Dr. W. Too

Submission Date: 4th October 2023

Introduction

Ethics is the study of right and wrong (Houser, 2023). It explores potential reactions to situations
when moral ideals, societal norms, or one's conviction may be at odds. Ethical considerations
serve as a guide when conducting research. In the creation of these corrective measures for the
moral conduct of nursing research, the integrity of the researcher is put to use through
independent judgment. This paper emphasizes the four ethical guidelines that govern research
which are, protection from harm, respect for persons, informed consent, Justice, and others.

1. Protection from harm / Bneficence

According to the Belmont report, the beneficence concept states that people should have their
decisions respected, be protected from harm, and have their best interests taken into account. It
puts the onus on researchers to reduce risks and increase benefits (Polit & Beck, 2017).

A) The right to freedom from harm and discomfort: In human research, researchers have a
responsibility to reduce and even eliminate risks. Participants must not be exposed to
unneeded risks, damage, or discomfort, and their involvement in the study must be
required to accomplish vital social goals. Hurt and discomfort can take the form of
physical ( injury), emotional or psychological (stress), social ( loss of social support), or
monetary ( loss of earnings) harm. Researchers who adhere to ethical standards must take
measures to reduce any harm or discomfort.
B) The right to protection from exploitation: Participants need to be guaranteed that their
involvement or the information provided will not be used against them. For instance, an
individual reporting cocaine abuse should not fear being reported for the crime. Study
participants enter into a special relationship with researchers and this relationship should
not be exploited.
2. Respect for persons

The moral precept of respect for persons is split into two distinct moral obligations, one being
the requirement to acknowledge a person's autonomy, and the second being the requirement to
safeguard those individuals with less autonomy. This ethical tenet combines the idea that people
should be viewed as autonomous creatures capable of making their own decisions without being
coerced and that those who have less autonomy ( vulnerable population) or who are incapable of
doing so should be safeguarded. For example, when researching vulnerable groups including
children, pregnant women, inmates, or those with cognitive disabilities, extra caution must be
exercised. To secure their well-being and avoid exploitation, more safeguards and precautions
are required. Subtle coercion is another aspect of it, where offering a sizable financial incentive
to promote the participation of a low-income group, such as the homeless might be viewed as a
minor kind of coercion.

3. Informed Consent

Getting participants' informed consent or permission is a crucial step in protecting participation.

Participants must have appropriate knowledge of the study, be able to understand it, and have the
freedom to accept or reject participating willingly to give their informed consent. Participants
must be given explicit explanations of what is expected of them as part of the research, any risks
associated, potential advantages, the type of data that will be gathered, and how those data will
be handled and utilized. Participants must be aware that there might be a reconsent if there can
be arising changes. It is also important that the entire consent be reviewed with the participant
before beginning the study, and it must be at the sixth to eighth-grade reading level. Informed
consent is often documented by researchers having participants sign a consent form. This form
contains details on the study’s objectives, the voluntary nature of participation, and any
associated fees and benefits.

4. Justice

Research should be done in fairly and equitable manner. It entails the right to fair and equitable
treatment and the right to privacy. The fair distribution of research benefits and costs is one
component of justice. When evaluating the worth of a study project, risks, and benefits should be
balanced; nevertheless, risks may accrue mostly to the individual participants or benefits accrue
primarily to others. Research ethics might depend on how risks and rewards are distributed
throughout society. Participants should be chosen based on the needs of the research, not on their
vulnerability. Another potential component of distributive justice is potential discrimination, such
as the exclusion of women and minorities from specific research.
Others

Social responsibility: Researchers have a responsibility to make a beneficial impact on society

and take into account the wider societal ramifications of their study. They ought to be cautious
that their results be misapplied.

Transparency in reporting: To contribute to the body of knowledge in an honest, and

transparent manner, researchers should correctly describe their findings including both good and
negative outcomes.

Institutional review: To make sure that research involving human subjects, conforms with
ethical norms, and laws, it should go through an ethical assessment by an Institution Review
Board (IRB ) or ethics review.

Conflict of interest: Researchers should disclose any potential financial or other interests that
could sway their work or findings.

Summary

These ethical principles provide a foundation for responsible and morally acceptable research,
and they are often reflected in research ethics guidelines and the Institutional Review Board
( IRB) processes. Researchers need to consider these principles throughout the research process,
from the design and planning stages to data collection, analysis, and dissemination of results.
References:

1. Houser, J. (2023) Nursing Research; Reading, Using and Creating Evidence

Fifth Ed. Denver, United States of America; Jones & Bartlett Learnings.

2. Polit, D. & Beck, C.(2017) Essentials of Nursing Research, Ninth Ed. Philadephia, New

York; Wolters Kluwer.