Ayele Tessema, PhD

Unit IV Research ethics

Upon completion of Unit IV, students will be able
to:
 Identify areas of ethical concern in research
 Know what is ethical and not ethical in research
 Develop senses of professionalism and moral
obligation to observe research ethics

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Research ethics refers to what is possible, and
is not possible to do when conducting
research
Research assumes that researchers have
professional and moral obligations to act
responsibly in their activities
Observing research ethics is a key factor to
earn credibility and respect both from research
participants and the public at large

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 However, ambiguities abound as to what is
ethical or not ethical in research
 Nevertheless, literature highlights a number of
key considerations which the researcher should
observe in the course of research activities
 there are a number of expected codes of conduct
and general guidelines that should be duly
observed by researchers in their activities

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Ethical considerations in research revolve around
issues concerning:
1. The responsibility shown towards research
participants
2. The consequences and/or usage of the research
outcomes, and
3. The accuracy, validity and honesty of research
findings

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 Often ethical transgressions occur in the course of data collection,
interpretation and the way the findings are used
Some of the key questions to ask in this regard are:
 Is data collection based on voluntary participation?
 Has any harm been done to participants?
 Is there invasion of privacy?
1  Are participants consented?
 Are participants forced or duped to provide information?
 Are confidentiality and anonymity of participant kept?
 Is some kind of deception involved in data collection?
 have others’ work been properly acknowledged?
2  Are findings used for beneficial purposes?
 Is data interpreted for individual or group benefit?
3  Is data genuinely interpreted?

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A. Responsibility towards research participants
 Refers to respect of the rights of those cooperating with the
research
This includes:
1. The need to get informed consent of participants
This means:
- To get consent from the participants on whether or
not they are willing to participate or provide
information based on their freewill
- Respect for voluntary participation i.e. individuals
determine for themselves whether or not to be part
of a research project

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- Participants are informed about all aspects of a
research project which might influence their
decision to participate - such as information on
the goals of the research, what is expected of
them, as well as potential risks and benefits of
participation, incl. the right to withdraw
- Avoid forcing or duping subjects to provide
information

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- Avoiding disguised and covert observation
Informed consent assume that participants are
able, competent, mature, responsible and
willing to provide the required information, and
fully comprehend its consequences
- However, it is important to note that the right to
informed consent is often violated

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2. Respect for privacy of subjects
Refers to the right of subjects to provide
information under the conditions they want. i.e..
 where they want to provide the information
 when they want to provide it, and
 under what condition (s) e.g. level of secrecy,
they want to provide it
The right to privacy is about paying attention to:
i. the sensitivity of the information being solicited
ii. the location or setting of the research, and
iii. disclosure of the study findings

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3. Confidentiality and anonymity
Confidentiality refers to:
protection of the participants identity i.e. removing all
identifying information about individuals from
research records and reports.
It is an assurance that the information will never be
linked to individual participants in public.
It means not going public with personal information
esp. keeping sensitive information secret
Confidentiality encourages honest responses from
participants
However, there is limit to confidentiality if the legal
system becomes involved

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Anonymity
ensures that there is no link at all between
individual data and the participant
The difference between confidentiality and
anonymity is that in the first case the researcher
actually knows which name is linked to which
specific information while in the second s/he
does not

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B. Consequences and/or how research outcomes
used
Relates to damages that could be done to subjects
both during the research process and after the
results are obtained
- i.e. physical, social, psychological, health damages,
etc:
- Side effects, and short and long term damages such
as disability, pain, distress, loss of self-esteem, etc.
- Use of results for destructive purposes

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Research should
not cause harm to subjects
refrain from activities that cause damage to the
physical, psychological and emotional well-being of
participants
Research that harms or poses risks to subjects is
incompatible with the fundamental ethical principles

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C. Accuracy, validity, and honesty
This refers to:
Reporting nothing but the truth: Fair and accurate
reporting of findings is the whole mark of good research
Avoiding conflict of interest – the researcher should not
be influenced by personal gains in interpreting findings
Plagiarism and theft – stealing and using others works
without properly acknowledging is not allowed
Data manipulation (also known as data doctoring), data
falsification, and data fabrication are illegal in research

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Traits of a researcher
 Directness
 Truthfulness
 Humbleness (not being arrogant)
 Modesty (be reserved)
 Politeness
 Respectfulness
 Avoiding bias (prejudice, partiality, favoritism,
preconceived notion, foregone conclusion)

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Measures to ensure research ethics
1. The presence of ethical committees – the existence of
bodies entrusted with the responsibility to oversee
whether ethical rules are observed or not is vital
2. The presence of peer validation- research findings
should always be reviewed by peer groups
3. The need to view research findings with care and
measured skepticism
4. The presence of the practice of continuous evaluation
of results – checking and rechecking of previous
findings is essential to correct possible wrong
conclusions

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