HSA Coursebook

Block 1, Unit 2 - Ethics in Research

(Summary)

Integrity

• honesty, openness
• avoid confusion and deception, use simple language

Conflict of interest

• disclose possible affiliatiions or bias

Beneficience/Nonmaleficence

• research that aims to do good and prevent wrong (i.e cause no inconvenience or undue stress to participants)
• avoid targeting vulnerable groups
• age groups below 18 and over 65
• respect of the participants

Informed consent

• inform participants clearly of what the research entails
• be appropriate, polite
• tell purpose of the research clearly
• address risks
• offer support and feedback to any question raised
• mention right to withdraw from the research study at any time with repercussion or penalty

Competence and training

• perform only what is feasible
• respect of the data (ensure validity and reliability of the findings )

General principles of sound research design

• is interesting and can bring new information or observations
• hypotheses is valid
• research design/methods/proposed analysis are well defined
• the research is conducted by the relevant people (in regard to academic background and disposition)
• understanding of topic

Openness

• make the research and its data available to a wide audience

Confidentiality

• Data should be kept anonymously and carefully; no personal details made available

Research misconduct

• no plagiarism, fabrication, lie or deceit

Authorship

• credit given where it is due

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European Commission 2018 Ethics and data protection. European Commission Directorate-General for Research and Innovation. Available at https://www.dcu.ie/sites/default/files/research_support/h2020_hi_ethics-data-protection_en.pdf (29 October 2020)

Bell, J, & Waters, S 2014, Doing Your Research Project : A Guide For First-Time Researchers, McGraw-Hill Education, Milton Keynes. Available from: ProQuest Ebook Central. (29 October 2020).