Friday, March 31, 2017
Wednesday, March 29, 2017
Ethics in research
We don’t find ethics in research method mentioned remarkably but no activity of any researcher can be spared from responsibility, moral /ethical behavior. People’s behavior is generally studied and analyzed in media research.
People involve in research process of peoples thoughts and activities through pre-defined questionnaire. Researcher should ensure not to violate the rights of the people who involve in research process or affected by the result of the research. For this, ethical consideration in research remains in the core.
Simply put, the act of the rules segregating right from wrong and opt for right acts can be taken as ethics.
“Ethics refers to moral principles that control or influence person’s behavior.” (Hornby, 2005)
Likewise according to Fernandes (2005), “The study of which actions individuals and society consider desirable and undesirable, as well as rationale for their judgments when they are faced with equally compelling choices."
There is no universal definition of ethics but numerous moral codes of conduct, directives and theories have been emerged and developed in different time periods to inspire people to act right avoiding the wrong. Such rules and regulations do not produce immediate answers to moral questions emerged during research process but inspire a researcher to abide by moral behavior by making him her sensitive and responsible.
Theories of ethics
Greek philosopher Aristotle had put forward the concept of Golden Mean for Aristotle. that would suggest that human behavior should be moderate and agreeable to all. Such a balanced behavior is morality or ethics for Aristotle. The core of this concept is to avoid extremes and seek for moderation.
Wimmer and Dominic(2003) have stated that 3 major theories have been developed to determine how ethical and right behavior should be.
1. Rule based on Deontological theory
2. Balancing or Teleological theory
3. Relativistic theory
Rule based on Deontological theory: This theory was propounded by German philosopher Emmanuel Kant .According to him, human behavior should be based on moral laws or regulations He opines that such moral regulations should be strictly abided by. As cited by Wimmer and Domminick(2003) “A person should act in a way that he or she wants all others to act.”
Balancing or Teleological theory: The betterment of a person’s right behavior is measured on the basis or context of the possible harm could be emerged from the same. According to J S Mill, British thinker, it is measured on the basis of utility. That is why a good person acts to maximize the right and minimize the wrong. According to Wimmer and Domminick(2003), ”The teleological or balancing theory is best exemplified by what philosopher J S Mill called utilitarianism. In this theory, the good that may come from an action is weighed against or balanced against the possible harm.
Relativistic theory: This theory simply says that no behavior of a person is absolutely right or wrong. The right or wrong depends upon the circumstances a researcher working on. Ethical behavior depends on what kind of circumstances the research work is going on and how the cultural norms, usage of that place are. A behavior considered right in one place may prove to be wrong in another place. A researcher should determine the ethical behavior as per the society and circumstances and act accordingly. The behavior should be suitable for particular society.
Ethical principles
Theories lay foundation or basis to prepare ethics or rules. Some rules of moral behavior have ben propounded. These rules are relevant to the field of research. These are as follows:
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1. Principle of autonomy: This rule generally opines that a researcher should respect person's rights, norms and values, thoughts, decision etc. A person is always autonomous or free to conduct his/her activities, think and express. This rule focuses that a person has every right of self-determination. No one can or should violate this during research. People or respondents should be pre informed about the research process and their views should be recorded or noted without any distortion.
2.Principle of non-maleficence (Not to harm): This rule or principle opines that it it is wrong to intentionally inflict harm on others. It always keeps the researcher aware of intentional unintentional harms that could be made to the aspects and persons related to research.
3.Principle of beneficence (reducing harm): This rule is of the opinion that the responsibility of reducing or removing the probable risks or harms induced during research lies on the researcher him/herself. A positive obligation to remove existing harms and to confer benefit on others. Here, the behavior of the researcher is determined on the basis if harm and benefit. As the right behavior are determined on the basis of wrong, these rules are said to be based on the principle of balance or utility.
4.Principle of justice: This principle suggest that all the people having equal capacity should be treated equally. Behavior should not be influenced by external factors.As all the respondents have equal right, all of them should be treated equally. Like wise all the participants should get the benefit come out of the research on equal basis. It further says that post, power, creed should not impact the capacity and behavior of the people rather all the people having equal rights and capacity should have equal access and right to the benefit.
Ethical principles
Theories lay foundation or basis to prepare ethics or rules. Some rules of moral behavior have ben propounded. These rules are relevant to the field of research. These are as follows:
'
1. Principle of autonomy: This rule generally opines that a researcher should respect person's rights, norms and values, thoughts, decision etc. A person is always autonomous or free to conduct his/her activities, think and express. This rule focuses that a person has every right of self-determination. No one can or should violate this during research. People or respondents should be pre informed about the research process and their views should be recorded or noted without any distortion.
2.Principle of non-maleficence (Not to harm): This rule or principle opines that it it is wrong to intentionally inflict harm on others. It always keeps the researcher aware of intentional unintentional harms that could be made to the aspects and persons related to research.
3.Principle of beneficence (reducing harm): This rule is of the opinion that the responsibility of reducing or removing the probable risks or harms induced during research lies on the researcher him/herself. A positive obligation to remove existing harms and to confer benefit on others. Here, the behavior of the researcher is determined on the basis if harm and benefit. As the right behavior are determined on the basis of wrong, these rules are said to be based on the principle of balance or utility.
4.Principle of justice: This principle suggest that all the people having equal capacity should be treated equally. Behavior should not be influenced by external factors.As all the respondents have equal right, all of them should be treated equally. Like wise all the participants should get the benefit come out of the research on equal basis. It further says that post, power, creed should not impact the capacity and behavior of the people rather all the people having equal rights and capacity should have equal access and right to the benefit.
Beside the once listed above, some basic ethical considerations that we should keep in mind while conducting research are as foloows:
Honesty and Integrity: Researchers must present their findings truthfully and accurately. This involves not fabricating, falsifying, or misrepresenting data, and being transparent about methods, procedures, and potential conflicts of interest.
Respect for Participants: Researchers must respect the rights, dignity, and autonomy of research participants. This includes obtaining informed consent, ensuring confidentiality, and minimizing harm.
Informed Consent: Participants should be fully informed about the nature of the research, including any potential risks, before agreeing to participate. Consent must be given voluntarily and without coercion.
Confidentiality: Researchers must protect the privacy of participants by ensuring that personal information is kept confidential and secure, and that data is used only for the purposes stated in the research.
Justice: The benefits and burdens of research should be distributed fairly among participants. Researchers should avoid exploiting vulnerable populations and ensure that no group is unfairly burdened or excluded from potential benefits.
Accountability and Responsibility: Researchers are accountable to the scientific community, society, and participants for the conduct and consequences of their research. They must adhere to ethical guidelines and be prepared to justify their research decisions and actions.
Transparency and Openness: Researchers should be open about their research processes, share data and findings with the scientific community, and be willing to discuss and critique their work.
Respect for Intellectual Property: Proper credit should be given for others' work, and researchers should avoid plagiarism by citing sources appropriately and giving credit to original authors.
Social Responsibility: Researchers should consider the broader implications of their work on society and strive to conduct research that contributes positively to the well-being of people and the environment.
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