Explore examples of research ethics in action, including informed consent, confidentiality, integrity, respect for participants, and compliance with regulations. Learn how ethical principles guide research practices
Understanding Research Ethics. When conducting a research, we must not forget research ethics. Yes, research ethics is often an interesting discussion because it is a measure of the good or bad of the type of research to be conducted. Therefore, it is necessary to have a deep understanding of research ethics that is in accordance with the principles, code of ethics, and ethical standards.
Moreover, as scientists we are required to develop knowledge and technology that is beneficial to society. Of course, in carrying out these tasks, researchers are required to support high and maintain responsible actions and actions in research.
So, below we will explain what research ethics you must understand when starting research.
List of contents
Understanding Research Ethics
As reported on the Poltekkes page, it is explained that ethics comes from the Greek “Ethos”, namely the customs and rules of behavior that apply in society, a philosophical reflection on the morality of society.
The Researcher’s Code of Ethics is a moral reference for researchers in conducting research for the development of science and technology for humanity. This is a form of devotion and social responsibility and piety to God Almighty.
Research ethics relate to several norms, namely norms of politeness that pay attention to conventions and customs in the social order, legal norms regarding the imposition of sanctions when violations occur, and moral norms that include good and honest intentions and awareness in research.
Thus, although the interventions carried out in the research do not have risks that can harm or endanger respondents, researchers need to consider socioethical aspects and uphold human dignity. So that all research has research ethics.
Purpose of Ethics
- Regulates human actions, what they can and cannot do
- Protecting people from attempts to violate applicable discipline/rules
- Motivating people to do right/good deeds and avoid wrong/bad deeds
- Raising human awareness of the meaning of their actions and the consequences/effects of what they have done
- Confirming a person’s rights and obligations in social interactions
Research Ethics and Researchers
To support research ethics, the National Academy of Science USA (1995) has published guidelines as a guide in carrying out duties and responsibilities as a researcher or scientist.
The guide is formulated into 7 important points, including:
- Research must have a social basis. After an article is published, or a study is presented, readers and listeners will judge the results based on what they already know from other sources. These social mechanisms help generate and maintain the repertoire of experimental techniques, social conventions, and other methods that scientists use to conduct and report research.
- Being a scientist and researcher must be responsible and understand the values in science. The desire to do good research is a human value. Likewise, the requirement that honesty and standard objectivity must be maintained.
- Avoid involvement in activities that have a conflict of interest or bias in order to reduce the potential for bias to enter science.
- Must encourage publication and openness. Science is not just personal experience. It is shared knowledge based on a shared understanding of some aspect of the physical and social world.
- Maintain fair and balanced credit provision.
- Uphold the practice of authorship (only people who really make significant contributions are worthy of being written as authors)
- Maintaining experimental techniques and data treatment (to maintain the validity of the results obtained so as to facilitate the acceptance of these results by the scientific community).
- Avoiding blame in science
- Must react to ethical violations.