Ethics in research

Solution Preview

Dear Student,
Hi. The discussion below should get you started. Also, take note of the listed online resources you can use as it might be helpful in doing further exploration of the topic. Do review parts of your class material as well pertaining to ethics in research as your professor might be looking for certain ideas from there. If you have any questions about this solution, just let me know. Good luck with your studies and thank you for using Brainmass.

Sincerely,
OTA 105878/Xenia Jones
--------------------------------------

Issues in Research Ethics

Problem: Your research assistant collects data for a project from several individuals interviewed in your city. After the fourth interview, the assistant tells you that approval has not been received for the project from the institutional review board. What should you do?

Discussion:

Definition and Research Principles

Dilemmas of ethical nature in research is part and parcel of any undertaking. Research ethics is defined as the application and conscious utilization of fundamental ethical principles in any scientific study. Ethics addresses questions about moral principles - issues of right and wrong, of justice, of virtue and values is weighed. In this particular case, the question is about applied ethics, the moral course of action that must be undertaken in a particular situation, in varied fields interests of human life. The question here is about decision and professionalism, two applied ethical domains (Porter, 2006) that become the standard guide in dealing with organizational and social morality. Prior to discussing the APA (American Psychological Association) rules in relation to research, let us look into the 3 main theories used in social research to judge the moral standing of any situation, action or subject: Utilitarianism wherein the focus is the consequence judging that the right action is one that would bring about the greatest happiness/benefit, Kantianism wherein the focus is a categorical imperative, the rule of law, the right action regardless of the results/consequence, and virtue theory/ethics where the individual or the organization chooses the action suitable to his sensibilities, his philosophies and viewpoint for as long as that individual stands ...