ETHICAL RESEARCH

PRACTICES
PRACTICAL RESEARCH LESSON 2
Let’s look back...
In the previous lesson, we talked about the nature of research
and the different types of research approaches, namely the
quantitative and qualitative approaches. Furthermore, we also
talked about the strengths and weaknesses of the different
approaches.

This time around, we will learn about the standards that must
be observed when we write researches, both quantitative and
qualitative.
 OBJECTIVES

1.
2.
3.
In this lesson, we will discuss the
following:
• General ethical practices in research
• Common ethical standards in research
• Violations to the ethical practices in research
GENERAL ETHICAL PRACTICES IN
RESEARCH
 • Honesty
• Objectivity
• Integrity
• Carefulness
• Openness
• Respect for Intellectual Property
• Confidentiality
COMMON • Responsible Publication

ETHICAL • Non-discrimination
• Competence
STANDARDS • Legality

IN RESEARCH • Animal Care

• Human Subject Protection
You must report data, results
and procedures and the
status of your publication. You
HONESTY
must never manipulate data
to favor your intended results
and must never fabricate
results. Also, data must be
presented as they are.
 Your study must be free from
biases in terms of design,
data analysis, data
interpretation, peer review,
grant writing or even expert
OBJECTIVITY statements just to yield
favorable results.
All agreements made
between the researcher and
the participants must be
honored; researchers must
INTEGRITY
act with sincerity and
consistency.
 Researchers must check for
the accuracy of the results
and interpretations, making
sure that the study is free
from errors. Negligence must
be avoided at all times. One
must go over the materials
CAREFULNESS carefully to ensure that the
quality of the work is not
compromised by errors.
The results of the study and
the study itself must be
shared to the community,
OPENNESS
thereby contributing to that
body of knowledge. One
must also be open to
criticism about the study
and to new ideas pertaining
to the research itself.
RESPECT FOR
INTELLECTUAL
Researchers must honor
PROPERTY patents, copyrights and other
forms of intellectual property.
External sources must always
be properly cited and
acknowledged in research.
Confidential information (grades,
participants’ identity, grants for
publication, personnel records,
military secrets or patient CONFIDENTIALITY
records) are considered to be
privileged information and must
always be protected. As such,
these information must never be
openly placed in researches.
 Researches must be
published in order to
contribute to the existing
body of knowledge and to
help advance further
RESPONSIBLE research in that field. The
more research done on a
PUBLICATION field of knowledge will
nurture and improve that
field in the long run.
Avoid discriminating
participants’ race, gender
preference, ethnicity or
other aspects which are
not relevant to your
research.
NON-
DISCRIMINATION
COMPETENCE Each research activity must
be written with excellence.
Also, a researcher must
improve his/her own level
of competence through
continuing education and
through the conduct of
more researches.
 LEGALITY
A researcher must see to
it that all procedures and
content in the research
are in accordance with
the standards set by the
governing agencies and
the law.
 Proper care and respect for
animals must be observed
in the conduct of the study.
ANIMAL CARE No unnecessary or ill-
thought of procedures must
be done to animals.
When conducting research for
human subjects, make sure to
HUMAN
minimize harm and risks. SUBJECT
There must be a valiant effort
to increase or maximize the PROTECTION
benefits that they receive for
participating in the research.
VIOLATIONS TO THE EHTICAL
PRACTICES IN RESEARCH

So, what happens when these ethical guidelines are not

met or observed?

When ethical violations are committed, a research ethics

board (REB) may be summoned to review the violation
and determine the sanctions, which may range from the
rejection of a research proposal to imprisonment, in
extreme cases.
References
City University of Hong Kong. (n.d.). Research methods. Run
Run Shaw Library.
https://libguides.library.cityu.edu.hk/researchmethods/ethics
Resnik, D. B. (2013). What is ethics in research & why is it
important? National Institute of Environmental Health
Sciences.
https://courses.washington.edu/bethics/Homepage/What%2
0is%20Ethics%20in%20Research%20&%20Why%20is%20i
t%20Important_.pdf