Research Ethics - PR1000 Lecture Notes

A collection of vocabulary flashcards capturing key terms and definitions related to Research Ethics, based on lecture notes.

What are ethics?

Rules and principles that guide human conduct in terms of what is morally right or wrong.

Camus' quote on ethics

A man without ethics is like a wild beast loosed upon this world.

Ethical problems

Situations that arise when deciding between conflicting courses of action based on moral standards.

Legal duty in research

Researchers, universities, and funders must comply with ethical requirements in their work.

Consequences of ignoring ethics

Ignoring ethical principles can harm people and damage one's career.

Research in biological sciences

Research often involves significant risks, particularly related to human subjects.

Tuskegee syphilis study

A long-term study where African American men were misled about receiving treatment.

Guatemala STD study

Participants were secretly infected with STDs without consent, illustrating gross ethical violations.

Milgram experiment

A social psychology experiment demonstrating obedience to authority, with ethical concerns about participant well-being.

Stanford prison experiment

Psychological study that demonstrated the impact of situational variables on behavior, raising issues of harm.

Pillars of ethical research

1. Voluntary participation 2. Informed consent 3. Privacy 4. Protection from harm 5. Research misconduct

Voluntary participation

Participants must voluntarily agree to take part in research without coercion.

Right to withdraw

Participants must be informed they can leave the study at any time.

Grey areas in voluntary participation

Complex situations where ethical guidelines may conflict, such as compensation for participation.

Informed consent

Process in which participants are made fully aware of the study's purpose, procedures, and risks before agreeing to participate.

Deception in research

Deliberately misleading participants; should only occur if no harm results and is essential to the study.

Privacy in research

Participants have control over the information shared and how it is used.

Identifying information

Data that can trace an individual's identity, which should be protected in research.

Protection from harm

Research must avoid causing physical or psychological harm to participants.

Research misconduct

Includes practices like plagiarism and fabrication of data in research.

Consequences of research misconduct

Legal issues, loss of reputation, and negative impacts on career and institutional trust.

Plagiarism

Using someone else's work or ideas without proper attribution.

Fabrication in research

Making up data or results and reporting them as if they were genuine.

Generative AI in research

Using artificial intelligence like ChatGPT raises ethical questions regarding integrity in research.

Boundaries of ethical behavior

Determining what constitutes ethical vs unethical actions in research can be ambiguous.

Conducting ethical research

Research must adhere strictly to ethical principles like voluntary participation and informed consent.

Ethical review boards

Committees that evaluate the ethical aspects of research proposals at academic institutions.

Self-assessment for ethical research

A process to demonstrate adherence to ethical principles before conducting research.

Quiz for course assessment

A tool to evaluate students' understanding of research ethics, with multiple attempts allowed.

Research misconduct grey areas

Situations where actions may not clearly fall into ethical or unethical categories.

Importance of ethical training

Researchers should be educated on ethical principles to avoid misconduct.

Ethics in social sciences

Social research carries the risk of psychological harm to participants, necessitating ethical considerations.

Risk assessment in research

Identifying potential harm and benefits associated with participant involvement in studies.

Debriefing participants

Providing participants with information about the study’s true purpose after their involvement.

Vulnerable populations in research

Groups that require additional protections in research contexts to avoid exploitation.

Responsibility of researchers

Researchers hold the duty to ensure ethical standards are maintained throughout their work.

Informed consent documentation

Written records that outline participants' rights and study details prior to participation.

Ethical implications of research results

Findings can affect the lives of participants; thus, ethical considerations must be paramount.

Research ethics and legal ramifications

Failing to follow ethical guidelines can lead to legal consequences for researchers.

Public trust in research

Maintaining ethical standards is crucial to preserving public confidence in scientific research.

Long-term effects of unethical research

Unethical studies can lead to lasting damage, not only to individuals involved but also to societal trust in research.