The Ethics of Social Science Research
Why Should I Care?
MP PLEASE ADD - COMMENT
Research projects may incur harm. This issue has to be dealt with by universities to reduce the harm, and make sure that research is designed as ethically as possible.
Definitions
- Morals: What is right and wrong, as defined by social norms, traditions, religion, and other institutions. Values.
- Ethics: What is right and wrong, as argued by a philosophy, a set of logical conclusions, stemming from premises and assumptions.
- Deontology: A set of rules that govern conduct, such as law, regulations, and professional practices.
Example of Moral-Ethical conflict
Where do you place the following events?
|
|
Ethical |
Non-Ethical |
|
Moral |
Abortion becomes legal 1969 |
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Immoral |
Abortion ~1960 in progressive academia |
Abortion 1955 |
Major Principles of Ethical Theory
- Harms-Benefits:
A tally of advantages and disadvantages of a certain decision or action. - Logic and Intentions (Kant):
Where the ends are put in context with the intentions behind the decision or action.
Ethical considerations for researchers
Researchers have a responsibility to be truthful and transparent about:
a) the sources of their ideas: researchers must acknowledge the work of others
b) their actual findings
c) who the research participants were and how they were treated
Ethical considerations when studying individuals
Researchers also have the obligations to treat their participants with decency and dignity. Participants have the following rights
Protection from harm: Participants cannot be inflicted physical or psychological harm.
Informed consent: participants must be told about all features of a study that may affect their willingness to participate. In the case of children, parents must give their consent: children of any age also have the right to choose not to participate.
Confidentiality: Participants have the right to have their identity concealed on all collected data except in regards to suspected abuse.
Debriefing: Any deception related to the concealment of info to the participants for the purpose of the study must be disclosed following the end of the study. Deception is sometimes necessary to stude phenomenon that would otherwise be impossible to detect (ex., do employers discriminate against jobseekers with foreign names?)
Knowledge of the results: receive a copy of their signed consent form, and information about who to contact if you should have any questions.
When you develop a research project, you should consider ethical issues that may arise from the very beginning. Rule of thumb: put yourself in the participants’ shoes.
The University Rules of Ethics
REWRITE
A review committee gives green light to projects, including student research, and faculty research done outside the realms of the university. Projects are reviewed only if they are done on “humans.”
Harms-Benefits is the guiding principle.
If benefits outweigh harms, and harms are not critical, then studies get ok.
Reputational risks and potential legal actions are taken seriously.
Zimbardo experiment would never be done today.
Dawson Research Ethics Board
http://www.dawsoncollege.qc.ca/research-ethics-board/
McGill Policy on the Ethical Conduct of Research Involving Human Participants