Introduction
As in every human communication and interaction, ethical issues occur in all research. Ethical questions are considered to be philosophical questions. Many philosophical theories explain how researchers develop an ethical philosophy and how ethics influences behavior. These comprise opposing ethical values, the ground for moral behavioral intentions, and cognitive, ethical advancement. Even though ethics is considered an elusive topic, what remains clear is that anyone involved in a dealing or any human behavior must draft some moral orientations or standards. The purpose of this paper is to discuss how ethics is essential in research.
Origin of Ethics in Research
The origin of today’s ethics in research can be traced directly to the vicious experimentation on detainees in the Nazi bereavement camps during the Second World War. By 1947, at the time of the Nuremberg War Crime Trials, the Code of Nuremberg was established as a set of moral principles for judging scientists and physicians who had performed biomedical tests on concentration camps detainees. The code comprises such morals as informed absence and consent of beneficence, properly articulated systematic experimentation, and coercion toward experiment subjects (Wechsler, 2022).
Such code, together with the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki that was later revised in 1975 along with the Belmont Report that was drafted in 1979, was the prototype of several codes meant to ensure that any research concerning human subjects can be performed in a morally acceptable manner. From this point, there evolved the moral standards of the National Institute of Health Office of Human Subject Research that is currently governing research (Wechsler, 2022).
For instance, a student can experience an ethical dilemma when doing examinations. Similarly, another student can exchange already-done examination papers through automated text messages. This is an example of an ethical dilemma since other courses of action have different ethical implications. A moral idealist can apply a law that being dishonest is usually not accepted and, therefore, cannot participate in such an act. A moral relativist can say that the action is accepted since many other learners may do the same.
The other example is the responsibility to be straightforward. When somebody is willing to agree to take part actively, it is usually expected that she or he will give honest responses. Truthful cooperation is a focal responsibility of a research participant. In response to being honest, the subject should expect privacy. Confidentiality implies that others must not use the data used in research. When the participant believes that privacy must be ensured, it is easy to respond honestly, even when the topic is very sensitive. Likewise, the research sponsor and the researcher can expect the participant to maintain a high level of privacy. For example, suppose research entails a new product. In that case, they do not require the participant to deliberate on the idea of anxiety that such an idea may fall into the hands of a competitor. Therefore, privacy is a machine to ensure an honest response (Griffin, 2021).
- Explain how ethics are applied in research today through the various ethics boards (federal/university, scientific, business).
The federal/university is committed to ensuring a safe working environment that is free from physical violence, harassment, and abuse for everybody participating in conducting research in their environments. Regarding research involving animals, the universities follow the animal act of 1986 and the principles of refinement, reduction, and replacement.
On safety and health, the universities are committed to ensuring a healthy and safe environment where students and staff are confident that their welfare, safety, and health are considered to be of greatest significance at all times. To further institutions of higher learning’s culture of research honesty, the learning materials have been availed through canvas (Griffin, 2021).
Many professional companies have adopted and written codes of conduct or ethics for their scholars. These comprise the Marketing Research Society, Market Research, European Society for Opinion, and American Marketing Association. On the same note, lawmakers are progressively keen on the confidentiality issue of information collection. When teenagers are involved, scholars have a major duty to ensure they are safe. For example, the Child’s Online Privacy Protection Act, called COPPA, was passed in the United States law on April 2000. This law presents a child as somebody below thirteen (Griffin, 2021). Therefore, any person engaging in contact with such a child via the internet must seek consent and the notification of the parent before any identification, or such a child can give personal information. Hence, any researcher gathering information about that child, such as email address, phone number, or name, before seeking parental consent goes against the law. Even though ethics and law do not usually correspond, in this scenario, it is prudent that the child’s personal information should not be collected.
- Compare and contrast the different ethical review processes for each ethics board/committee (federal/university, &scientific).
In some cases, the application of study procedures to the research respondents may present an essential ethical issue that may not be easily dismissed by other researchers alone. It is at this point where a peer review process comes in. A human subject’s research board comprises a panel of researchers and legal authorities who prudently review the presented procedures to pinpoint any non-obvious or obvious legal or ethical issues. For example, any research supported by United States funds has to be subjected to such review.
Many business researchers are inoffensive and find little time for substantial psychological or physical trauma. But firms involved in pharmaceuticals, exercise physiology, dietary programs or supplements, and food marketing carry out consumer research with those possibilities in mind. Academic scientists also conduct research, considering the risks the participants may encounter. For example, consider a study assessing how the dietary supplement may make exercise more pleasant, thereby generating a better psychological and overall health effect. A peer review performed by a skilled researcher is required before such research is conducted (Griffin, 2021).
Practically every university and research company today maintains a human subject review board. This is a board that prudently reviews the presented research design and makes sure that no risk can affect any researcher. The board or committee can also conduct a peer review of the processes to ensure that no lawful challenges are created by adopting an effective design. This board may be referred to by different names like the internal review committee, however, the functions are to safeguard the business from participating in risky research (Resnik, 2020).
Research support companies and research staff need to exercise acceptable business morals. Researchers are usually the center of attention on business ethics due to the obligation that they connect with the public.
In the business sector, standardized research firms have come up with an exceptional methodology that assists them in investigating business specialty areas. Many research companies like Retail Forward offer location services for their retail companies. Research suppliers carry out research for different clients using the same procedures. For example, ACNielsen gathers information within all its new-product advancement processes, from the early screening stages via test marketing. Evaluation is done through the BASES system of other products in a highly competitive environment (Griffin, 2021). For instance, customers can compare their daily recall scores against the average scores for any product or service category.
Even in cases where the company can carry out a research duty in-house, the researcher suppliers can conduct the project at a reduced cost, relatively more objectively, and faster. A firm that wishes to swiftly assess a new advertising strategy can find an advertising agency’s research department capable of offering technical know-how within copy advancement research that is unavailable within the business itself. Researchers can be sufficiently advised to look for assistance from outside when carrying out research in a distant nation where the necessary knowledge and human resources to efficiently gather information are lacking.
Ethical Requirements for Business Research
Honesty while reporting errors
Any error that may be experienced in conducting research must not be kept secret from the sponsor or management. Hiding variations or errors normally shade or distorts the outcome of the research. The research must point out the major limitations of the study presentation and report. Any aspect that qualifies the outcomes may be understood when this is done. The reader needs this data before deciding on any dangerous action (Bhandari, 2022).
Confidentiality
All the respondents should enjoy confidentiality rights. This ethical requirement aims to safeguard the personal information of all participants as long the researcher uses or accommodates them. Even when the researcher cannot collect information secretly, he or she must safeguard the confidentiality of the participants as much as possible.
Voluntary participation
This ethical requirement aims to enable all the participants to participate at will during the research exercise. It, therefore, implies that every participant is free to leave or withdraw from the exercise at any given point without being forced to continue. The participants are not obliged to give reasons for withdrawing from the study.
Informed consent
The purpose of this ethical requirement is for the researcher to ensure that all the participants who intend to participate in the exercise understand or receive every information required to decide if they can participate in the study. These comprise the details about the research’s institutional approval, funding, risks, and benefits. Usually, the researcher must supply the potential respondents with a message to give them ample time to ask questions or seek clarifications.
Anonymity
The researcher can guarantee anonymity by not gathering any individually identifying data. This includes videos, photos, physical characteristics, IP addresses, email addresses, phone numbers, and names.
A Final Note on Ethics
Some scholars would either fabricate outcomes or twist results for selfish gain. However, this is not professionalism. Therefore, scholars must maintain the utmost integrity to safeguard their industries. Research respondents must also play their duty well, as this will provide the best outcome to all clients. Lastly, research users must adhere to accepted professional ethics while treating research results and researchers.
References
Griffin, C. (2021). Business Research Methods. file:///C:/Users/user/Downloads/Business%20Research%20Methods,%208th%20Edition%20by%20William%20G.%20Zikmund,%20Barry%20J.%20Babin,%20Jon%20C.%20Carr,%20Mitch%20Griffin%20(z-lib.org).pdf. Retrieved 2023, from Users
Wechsler, J. (2022). The Origins of Research Ethics. https://www.appliedclinicaltrialsonline.com/view/origins-research-ethics. Retrieved 2023, from appliedclinicaltrialsonline
Bhandari, P. (2022). Ethical Considerations in Research | Types & Examples. https://www.scribbr.com/methodology/research-ethics/#:~:text=considerations%20in%20research%3F-,Ethical%20considerations%20in%20research%20are%20a%20set%20of%20principles%20that,for%20harm%2C%20and%20results%20communication. Retrieved 2023, from scribbler
Resnik, D. (2020). What Is Ethics in Research & Why Is It Important? https://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/resources/bioethics/whatis/index.cfm. Retrieved 2023, from NIEHS
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