Some Key signals of the investigator's ethical behavior Are honesty, compliance with legality, non-discrimination, social responsibility, proper guidance or care of animals.
The ethical behavior of the researcher consists in the practice of conducting scientific research with integrity, adhering to the principles and practices of valid experimentation (scientific method, accurate sampling, accurate recording of data, etc.), impartial review and communication Of the results to the scientific community.
Since research often involves great cooperation and coordination among many different people in various disciplines and institutions, ethical norms promote values Which are essential for collaborative work, such as trust, responsibility, mutual respect and justice.
For example, many ethical standards in research, such as guidelines for authorship, copyright and patent policies, data exchange policies and confidentiality rules in peer review, are designed to protect the interests Intellectual property while encouraging collaboration.
15 Signs of the researcher's ethical behavior
Given the importance of ethics in conducting research, it should come as no surprise that many professional associations, government agencies, and universities have adopted specific codes, rules and policies related to research ethics.
Many government agencies, such as national health institutes, food and drug administrations, environmental protection agencies, and agriculture departments have developed ethical rules that funded researchers must adhere to.
Influential research ethics policies include:
- The Singapore Declaration on the Integrity of Investigations
- The American Chemical Society
- The Code of Conduct for the Professional Chemist
- The Code of Ethics (American Society of Clinical Laboratory Science)
- The American Psychological Association
- The Ethical Principles of Psychologists and the Code of Conduct, Ethics and Professional Responsibility (American Anthropological Association)
- Statement on Professional Ethics (American Association of University Professors)
- The Nuremberg Code
- The Helsinki Declaration of the World Medical Association.
The following is an approximate and general summary of some signs of ethical behavior that a researcher must possess.
1 - Honesty
It is based on striving to be honest in all scientific communications. Provide the reader with reports, data, results, methods, procedures and the state of the publications with honesty. Do not fabricate, falsify or distort data. Do not mislead colleagues, research sponsors or the public.
2- Objectivity
Bias should be avoided in experimental design, data analysis, data interpretation, peer review, staffing decisions, donation writing, expert testimony, and other aspects of research where objectivity is expected or required.
Avoid or minimize bias or self-deception. Disclose personal or financial interests that may affect the investigation.
3- Integrity
Maintain promises and agreements, act sincerely, strive for coherence of thought and action.
4- Caution
Avoid carelessness and negligence, critically and carefully examine your own work and that of peers.
Maintain good records of research activities, such as data collection, research design and correspondence with agencies or journals.
5- Candor
Share data, results, ideas, tools and resources. Be open to criticism and new ideas.
6- Respect for intellectual property
Honor patents, copyrights and other forms of intellectual property. Do not use unpublished data, methods or results without permission.
Give appropriate recognition or credit for all research contributions. Never plagiarize.
7- Confidentiality
Protect confidential communications, such as documents or grants submitted for publication, personnel records, trade or military secrets, and patient records.
8- Responsible publication
Publish in order to advance the research, not to be able to move to the next stage. Avoid duplicate and unnecessary publication.
9- Responsible orientation
Help educate, guide and advise students. Promote their well-being and enable them to make their own decisions.
10- Social responsibility
Strive to promote the social good and prevent or mitigate social harm through research, public education and advocacy.
11- Do not discriminate
Avoid discrimination against colleagues or students by gender, race, ethnicity or other factors unrelated to scientific competence and integrity.
12- Competition
Maintain and improve their own competence and professional experience through education and lifelong learning. Take measures to promote competition in science as a whole.
13- Legality
Know and obey relevant laws and institutional and governmental policies.
14- Care of animals
Show due respect and care for animals when used in research. Do not perform unnecessary or poorly designed experiments with animals.
15- Protection of human subjects
When conducting human research, it is important to minimize harm and risk and maximize benefits.
Respect human dignity, privacy and autonomy. Take special precautions with vulnerable populations and try to distribute the benefits and burdens of research fairly.
Why are these signs important?
Most researchers want to receive credit for their contributions and do not want their ideas stolen or revealed prematurely.
Many of these ethical standards help ensure that researchers are accountable to the public.
For example, federal policies on misconduct in research, conflicts of interest, protections of human beings and the care and use of animals are necessary to ensure that researchers who are funded by public money can be held accountable the public.
Ethical standards in research also help create public support for research.
People are more likely to fund a research project if they can rely on the quality and integrity of the research.
Finally, many research standards promote a variety of other important moral and social values, such as social responsibility, human rights, animal welfare, law enforcement, and public health and safety.
Ethical errors in research can significantly harm human and animal subjects, students and the public.
For example, a researcher who invents data in a clinical trial may injure or even kill patients, and an investigator who fails to comply with regulations and guidelines related to radiation or biological safety may endanger his or her health and safety or Staff and other people.
References
- American Psychological Association. Guidelines for ethical conduct of behavioral projects involving human participants by high school students (2012). Retrieved from: apa.org.
- Blakstad O. Ethics in research (2008). Retrieved from: explorable.com.
- Munhall PL. Ethical considerations in qualitative research (1988). Western Journal of Nursing Research.
- Resnik D. What is ethics in research & why is it important? (2015).
- Sales BD, Folkman S. Ethics in research with human participants (2000). Washington: American Psychological Association.
- Shampoo A, Resnik D. Responsible conduct of research (2015). New York: University Press.
- Smith D. Five principles for research ethics (2003). American Psychological Association.