Lecture Communication research: Asking questions, finding answers (4e) Chapter 3: Research ethics

Chapter 3

RESEARCH

ETHICS


* All researchers, even students,

have a

responsibility to conduct ethical research
* Participants In research studies should know
and understand their rights and responsibilities

* Ethical considerations are part of the design of
the research project


ETHICAL QUESTIONS IN PLANNING RESEARCH

Researcher has two broad ethical
responsibilities
1.

Scientific responsibility for following established
suidelines and conducting research that will yield
Knowledge worth knowing

2.

The researcher's relationship to participants as It
affects collection, interpretation, and reporting of
data


SPECIFICALLY—
How will the consent of participants be gained?
How will confidentiality/anonymity be handled?
Are the participants appropriate for the study?
Are there potential physical or psychological harms

How will the researcher’s role affect the study?
Is the research design valid, credible’?

Is researcher capable of conducting the study?


THE BELMONT REPORT
* Three ethical principles
+ Beneficence
+ Respect for persons

+ Justice

* Must design research to
uphold these principles to
the fullest degree possible


BENEFICENCE

* The well-being of participants is protected
* Participants protected from harm
* Researcher must maximize possible benefits
* Benefits to participants must outweigh risks


* Treat individuals as capable of making
decisions
+ Refrain from making choices for participants
+ Participants must feel free to volunteer; no coercion

* Protecting those not capable of making their
own decisions


JUSTICE
* Issues of fairness
* All participants treated equally
* Selection of participants
+ Am | systematically selecting one group of participants
because they are
* Easily available?
*In a position making it difficult to say no?
*In a position in which they can be manipulated into
participating?


IN

ONAL

F

N

BOARLC

* University Institutional Review Board
+ Also called /RB or Human Subjects Review

* Considers soundness

and

reasonableness

of research

proposals

* Determines if rights and welfare of research
participants are adequately protected in research

design

Submit proposal before any data are collected


IRB
PROPOSALS

Research questions or

*

hypotheses

Research

methods

How benefits are

Brief review of literature

maximized, risks

Description of how

minimized

participants are
recruited/selected

> Anonymity &
confidentiality

Informed consent

*

Investigator’s
background


INFORMED CONSENT
* Information must be given to participants any
time data are collected from them

* Creates obligations and responsibilities for the
researcher
* Participant consent must be given voluntarily
* Written in a manner participants can
understand

—- clear and accurate


VIEN

t

NFORIVED

CON

\

Identification of researcher
and organization

-

Any physical or psychological
harms

Purpose of study

-

If deception is used

Features of research
orocess

-

To whom follow-up questions
can be directed

Expected duration

-

Participation is voluntary

-

Can discontinue or refuse to

-

Indication that participant
Should have copy of form

Possible risks and

benefits

How confidentiality and
anonymity assured

participate without penalty


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* Traditionally applied to all quantitative projects

* Describes the exact procedures
* Indicates if participants will be exposed to any
materials that may be threatening or distasteful
* May require participant to sign and return a
copy of the form


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* IRB will decide if informed consent is needed
based on
+ Is interaction occurring naturally in a public setting?
+ Will researcher's interaction with participants in
that setting create negative consequences for any
of the participants?

* Always check with your IRB to see if consent is
required


ETHICAL ISSUES IN CONDUCTING

RESEARCH

* Intentional deception

* Use of confederates
* Physical and psychological harm

* Upholding anonymity and confidentiality
* Videotaping and audiotaping participants

* Debriefing participants


* Ensuring accuracy

+ Researcher is always responsible for accuracy
regardless of who helps

* Avoiding plagiarism by
+ Using direct quotes with proper citations
+ Using summaries or paraphrases

+ Acknowledge ideas or contributions

* Protecting identities of participants

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