ETHICAL & OTHER RELEVANT ISSUES IN RESEARCH

PROFESSOR R. C. MISHRA
UTTARAKHAND OPEN UNIVERSITY
HALDWANI-NAINITAL
 RESEARCH
 Tool of knowledge creation
 Joy of creation

 Unique system/ Characteristics

(Systematic thinking about thinking itself)

 Deductive Reasoning (Aristotle)

 Inductive Reasoning ( Francis Bacon)

SEARCH, RE-SEARCH AND
RESEARCH

Search: ‘Looking for Something’

Re-Search: Repetition of ‘Search’
Research: ‘ Looking into Something’.
- missing links.
- justification.
‘ pursuit of knowledge leading to acceptable
conclusions’.
SCIENTIFIC PATTERN- 1
 Recognition and definition of problem
 Review of Literature
 Identification of gaps
 Research Questions
 Formulation of hypothesis/ objectives
 SCIENTIFIC PATTERN-2

 Research Design
 Collection, organization and analysis of data
 Conclusion, formulation
 Verification, modification or rejection of hypothesis
 Generalization / Theory
 New Hypothesis/ New Research
 PRE-REQUISITES
 Deeper /Proper understanding
 Love for reading/ studies

 Enquiring Mind/ Aptitude

 Proper Knowledge of R.M.

 Proper Grooming in R.M.

 Application of Technology

 Continuous updation
 UNIQUE FEATURES
•Directed towards solution of a problem.
 Developing generalizations.
 Based upon observable experience or empirical proof.
 New Data / Existing data for new purpose.
 Objective/ logical / free from bias.
( Stress on testing rather on proving)
 Quest for unresolved answers.
Carefully recorded/ reported/replicable.
 Failure/ Disappointment
 BASIC RESEARCH SKILLS
 Curiosity

 Attentiveness

 Patience

 Hands-on- construction

 Scepticism.
( Prof. Guy Claxton)
STAGES IN RESEARCH
Studies/ Learning/General Review/Observation

Questions/doubts/scepticism

Crystallization

Plan of Study / Methodology

Specific Review of Literature

Gaps

Specific Research Problems/Questions/hypotheses

Assumptions

Initiation of Research
 WHAT ARE ETHICAL VALUES
 Truth, fair and just.
 What is right and justified.

 Distinct from legality.

 Dimensions;
 Fabrification/Falsification/ Plagiarism.
 Common Knowledge/ pre-conceived notions.
 Questionable Policies/honorary authorship.
 Sexual misconduct/ violation of privacy /rules.
 Others(Not quoting other/ bias/ convenience)
 ETHICS IN RESEARCH: WHY?
 Well being of society.
 Social, environmental , economic laws &
policies.
 Defence Plans, buildings.
 Lot of funds are involved.

 Academic branches of knowledge/ improved

knowledge.
 A lot depends on accuracy of data.
 EXPENDITURE ON R&D
Expenditures on Expenditures on
S. No. Country/Region R&D (billions % of GDP PPP R&D per capita Year
of US$, PPP), (US$ PPP),

1 United States 473.4 2.74% 1,442.51 2013

2 China 409 2.10% 298.56 2015

3 European Union 388.3 2.03% 764.3 2014

4 Japan 179.8 3.58% 1,413.90 2014

5 Germany 109.4 2.87% 1,351.10 2014

6 South Korea 91.6 4.29% 1,518.47 2014

7 India 66.5 0.85% 39.37 2015

8 France 60 2.26% 905.8 2014

Source : Wikipedia
 BASIC ASPECTS-1
 Recognition of diversity of approaches.
 Respect for those engaged in it
 Proper & relevant review of literature

 Research design/ Methodology

 Voluntary informed consent ;
 Allparticipants understand the process.
 Disclose the extent to which it impinges on others.

 Appropriate consent/ authority.

 Cultural- ethnic- religious sensitivity

 BASIC ASPECTS-2
 Privacy;
 Confidential treatment of participants’ data
 Full disclosure to respondents.
 De- briefing (disguised experiment).

 Procedure/ process;
 Fulldisclosure.
 Replicable /open to external scrutiny.

 Involvement of vulnerable groups;

 Children/old people / destitutes.
 Animals.
 Legal requirements .
 BASIC ASPECTS-3
 Publication;
 Obligation to place in public domain .
 Others;
 Sensationalization/Community-disrepute/
Distortion(publishing only one part)/ unprofessional
criticism/ Compromising objectivity/ Research for
illegal or fraudulent proposes.
 RESEARCH
PROBLEM/STAKEHOLDERS
 Identification of Research problem;
 Useful /relevant
 Must re-define or add to knowledge

 Not a Matter of convenience

 Stakeholders;
 Researchers/Respondents/ Academic community/
Govt./ sponsors/ clients/ public (rights of all must
be taken care of)
 WANT VS. NEED
 For-profit commercial research,
 Compromise of objectivity
 Declaration of the code of ethics.

 What is actually required should be the focus;

 Segmentation /distribution channel.
 Budget should not be the criterion
 Scale (want vs. need)
 Universe / Sample (want vs. need)
 Approach /Methodology
 Definition of operational terms
 SAMPLE
 Not based on convenience.
 Representative/free from bias
 Secondary data- Appropriate.

 Definition of population/sampling
frame/Sampling Techniques
 Sample size;
 Based on Secondary sources
 Judgement

 Small Pilot study

 QUESTIONNAIRE
 Questionnaire Vs Schedule
 Careful framing;
 Required Information only /overly long/
 Reasonable Size /Sensitive questions/Confusing
/Difficult
 Improperly worded/No-obligation to answer.

 Limited open ended (defined parameters)

 Peer Review.
 Pilot-testing.

 Administration.
 SCALING/ FIELDWORK
 Scales;
 Reliability/Validity/Generalizability
 No Scope of bias
 Fieldwork;

 Accepted procedure/Well –documented/

 Proper Id/Reference/Available for scrutiny/

 Period of field work.

 DATA EDITING
 Editing/Checking/Cleaning/Coding.
 Questionable data must be separated.

 Similar answers
 Ethical editing may reduce sample
 Extrapolation/ Withholding/misuse be avoided
 No compromise with research design.
 Data not to support personal/corporate view.
 FINALLY
 Report Writing
 Language

 Research-based conclusions
 Referencing
 Bibliography
 Further Research

 Limitations
 Appendices
GANDHI JI AS A RESEARCHER

“I claim for them (his experiments) nothing more than

does a scientist who, though he conducts his
experiments with the utmost accuracy, forethought
and minuteness, never claims any finality about his
conclusions, but keeps an open mind regarding them.
I have gone through deep self-introspection, searched
myself through and through, and examined and
analysed every psychological situation. Yet I am far
from claiming any finality or infallibility about my
conclusions.”
(My Experiments ……P. xiii, ibid)
GANDHI JI’S METHODOLOGY - 1
CHOICE OF PROBLEM
 Poverty (Sarvodaya)
 Violence (Non-violence)
 Unemployment and Education (Spinning
wheel/Vocationalization)
Individuals
 Disunity/Frictions Sarva Dharma
Sambhav
Groups
 Sanitation, Public Health (Setting examples
himself)
 24
GANDHI JI’S METHODOLOGY - 2
 Persistence and thoroughness of his search :
 Trying to know India/on the spot study of
the problem.
 Master of all details;

(planning, org., execution)

 Testing of hypothesis on his own;
 Satya, Diet, Fasting, Sanitation, Caste-
reforms, Ahimsa, Trusteeship etc.

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GANDHI JI’S METHODOLOGY - 3

 Conflict resolution;
 Conflict of Identity (Inter-faith harmony).

 Rural Vs. Urban.

 Labour Vs. Capital.
 Religion Vs. Politics.
 Spinning Wheel – Occupational
therapy/Vocationalization.

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 GANDHI JI’S METHODOLOGY - 4
His objectivity and detachment
Self purification/Release of
cosmic energy within.
 Fasting
Potent Weapon.
Supporter
 Constitution
Opponent
Enemy
 British
Friend
Launched
 Quit India
Withdrawn
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