Ethics in Conducting - Research Paper Example

Ethics in Conducting Research of Ethics in Conducting Research In recent modern trends, the world is moving towards the5th generation. Modern studies are the main reason of developments in almost all the fields of human lives. For this purpose, doctoral research papers are referred as valid source of information about any certain topic. The term research paper is referred to a scholarly work which has two major qualities. One is originality and second is quality. The quality of a research paper relies on valid arguments those are gathered form the valid multiple sources. When we talk about the doctoral research papers, there are some necessary ethical factors that must be considered before for writing any research paper. The term ethics simply referred to the behaviour and moral conducts of any person. Generally, when the people talk about ethics, everyone think that, differentiation between the right and wrong is called ethics. This definition is right up to some level, but it does not include other necessary elements those are necessary to fulfil the ethical requirements. If you are going to write any of the literature review or any other research paper, then there are many ethical requirements that should be considered for quality paper. For better understanding, some of the necessary elements for conducting ethical research are mentioned below separately. Plagiarism: Originality of the material is the main element of any research paper. For this purpose, the main ethical requirement is that, your material should be original and based upon on your own research and work. You are not allowed to use the technique of plagiarism in your research work. The term plagiarism is generally referred to the situation of taking the credit of some other’s work. For example, you want to address the audience through your research paper, but you use the information that is based on some other’s work, then this act is treated unethical by every mean. You are not allowed to use the technique of copy and paste with your work. That does not mean that you cannot refer to someone else work. You can use other’s work to gain the ideas or improving your own work. In some research papers, you are also not allowed to copy the ideas of others, but it is only in some extreme cases. Honesty: As it is mentioned above that the research papers are referred to valid source of information. So “honesty” is also treated as a major element of ethical factors. For example, you are going to make a research paper on some scientific research then you must ensure that you are honest gathering all scientific information and data. You are not allowed to misrepresent, falsify any information. Integrity: Integrity is one of the main features of ethical research work. This simple means that, you should keep your promises and related agreements in proper manner. In addition, you must need to act sincerely with your work to maintain good ethical approach. Risk assessment: Risk assessment is also one of the major factors of fulfilling ethical requirement for a research. There are many institutions that set the necessary requirements to their students to carry the risk assessment procedures before starting the research work. The timings and the procedure for risk assessment can vary between different institutions. If you are going to start work on a research paper, then there is the possibility that you may face some abnormal potential risks. Some the risk can be inherently embedded in your research project. In this case, you must discuss all these problems with your supervisory body before starting your research paper. There are many reasons that why the supervisory bodies and institutions want risk assessment procedures for any research papers. When any institution or a supervisory body sponsor any research project, they accept the liabilities and responsibilities for the things those are going to take place in relation with the research paper. For example, Institution and supervisory bodies are bound by a code of conduct for risk assessment in the United Kingdom. This code of conduct set variety of rules to meet with the all risk assessment objectives. Risk assessment is necessary due to these following reasons. Public confidence: if research is taken in unethical manner, the public confidence and the reputation of the institution can be damaged. Funds providers: if the research is taken in inappropriate manner then it can damage the reputation in the eyes of funds provider. For Example, if the research work is not competed on time or the work have poor quality then it can hurt their expectation. Research Community: if the work have poor quality and contain the falsified and fictitious data then it can damage the trust of the research community. Financial and legal liability: If the research work is taken in unethical manner then there might be a possibility of incurring legal or financial penalty. For example, if the research work contains falsified information which is against the legal rules or harmful to any 3rd party then effected party can take legal actions against the institution. Due to these reasons it is ethically recommended to all researchers to carry out the risk assessment before starting their research work. Informed Consent: Informed consent is also one of the major elements of conducting ethical research. Informed consent simple means that, the researcher or researchers should be informed about the procedures and the risks those are attached with the research. In addition, informed consent includes all the legal or financial information about the research work. They also need to give their consent as a participant. In some cases, there are some serious risk are attached with the research work. Ethically, it is recommended for researchers not to show their consent as a participant in the researches where they might be at risk of facing any harmful or adverse situation. For example, where participant have the fear that anyone can force him to manipulate the results of his research then he must not show his consent to participate in the research work. Privacy and confidentiality: Privacy and confidentiality are referred to the main ethical element. Both of these elements are necessary to conduct a proper ethical research. If you are going to work on a research paper, then it is your responsibility that you must protect the confidential information or communication which is related to your research work. For example, you must not disclose any of the papers or grants those are used to publish your research work. In addition, you must ensure that, you will protect any personal records, secrets, patent records or any other secret information which is prohibited to share by law or by some other related means. In practice, almost all the researchers assure for the confidently. In addition, they have to ensure that, they will not share any information that is related with this research studies. Mistakes and Negligence: There is possibility that you may face mistakes and negligence with your research work. The main reason is that sometimes new experiences are complicated or sometimes you need to take some risk to carry out a proper research. Due to these factors, mistakes can happen but there is a big difference in making an error with own consent and making an error unconsciously. Mistakes can cause by negligence, by negligence or by any other unreasonable behaviours. Inattention is also of a major factor of incurring errors and mistake in the research work. On the other side of coin, if any of the mistakes is noted and the research work has published then there is a strong need to correct the mistake by informing the responsible party as soon as possible. For example, you are carrying out a research on any science topic. After your research work is published, you come to know that you have made any serious error in your research paper. So, it is your prime responsibility to accept your negligence and should take steps to correct the mistakes and errors. Working with a Mentor: Mentor is the person in whose direction you will carry out your research work. There are many responsibilities of a mentor. A mentor is responsible to guide you about the positive ways and encourage you to carry out your work in efficient manner. Sometimes mentor provide a presence as caring agent or a role model. For example, if you are carrying your research work, mentor can guide you that how can you carry out your work in effective manner. A mentor can be anyone who is above 18 years but ethically, a mentor should be a professional or trained person for a doctoral research. Some institutions have also set the code of ethics for a mentor. So it is ethically recommended work with mentor for a proper research work. In addition, there are also some benefits of adding a mentor. You can also avoid the chance of mistakes by adding the mentor in your research work because a mentor can guide you about the procedures to carry efficient research work. Non-discrimination: Ethical behaviours in a research work also include the non-discrimination factors. Non-discrimination is referred to avoid the discrimination against the other participants or against colleagues such as on the basis of sexes or any other related factor. For example, if you are working as team leader in a research work, then you must ensure that will not make any discrimination among the members. There is a need to treat to equally without making discrimination on any basis. Social Responsibility: Social responsibility simply means how a research work produces a positive impact on overall society. It is an internal function and you must ensure that your work how your work can give maximum benefits to the society. Form past few years, social responsibility is referred as a primary requirement to conduct an ethical research work. Conclusion Scientific research papers are considered as valid form information. It is necessary to meet all the ethical guidelines to write any research paper. If you are going to write a research paper, then you must be informed that you are going to face many ethical liabilities for a successful research work. This paper includes all the information about the necessary ethical factors that must be considered to conduct a research work. References: Gregory, I. (2003). Ethics in research. London: Continuum. Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Society. (1992). Ethical issues in scientific research. Research Triangle Park, N.C: The Club. Lathrop, A., & Foss, K. (2000). Student cheating and plagiarism in the Internet era: A wake-up call. Englewood, Colo: Libraries Unlimited. Lathrop, A., & Foss, K. (2005). Guiding students from cheating and plagiarism to honesty and integrity: Strategies for change. Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited. Smith, I. A. (2006). Research ethics. New York: Routledge. Shamoo, A. E., & Resnik, D. B. (2003). Responsible conduct of research. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Mark Williams. (2001). Ethics in Research. (Australasian Journal of Information Systems; Vol 8, No 2 (2001).) Australian Computer Society. LaFollette, M. C. (1992). Stealing into print: Fraud, plagiarism, and misconduct in scientific publishing. Berkeley: University of California Press. United States. (1995). Integrity and misconduct in research: Report of the Commission on Research Integrity to the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the House Committee on Commerce, the Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources. Rockville, MD: U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Office of the Secretary, Office of Research Integrity. Read More