In all types of research studies, the researchers need to keep ethics while conducting the research studies. As researchers, they have the responsibility to maintain the rights of the research participants. For example, a research participant has the right to refuse to be involved in the process and may quit his participation. There are legal restrictions to access to student's records that the researcher must know that and the researchers need to know the strategies to get to inter into schools and maintain cooperation with the school personnel. Here are some major ethical considerations discussed which are considered as elements of the integrity of research work.
Confidentiality means that the researcher knows the identities of the potential participants and assures them not to disclose any of the data provided by the participants. It is the ethics of research that the researcher will not provide access, anyone, to individual data. Ethically, the researcher needs to protect the interest of the participants’ vulnerability. Without it, the participants on the low level of trust in the researcher may provide fake data or distorted data. Therefore, confidentiality is considered an element of the integrity of research work.
Anonymity means that the researcher is unaware of the identities of the research participants. The researcher does not know which data has been provided by which participant. It rarely happens in research studies because sometimes, the researchers need to reconfirm the information or clarify some aspects of the given data through contacting back to the research participants. In such situations, anonymity is difficult to be maintained. However, it is an ethical consideration wherever, if the application needs to be ensured while carrying out research studies.
It is the ethics of the research that if once the participants are selected then informed consent needs to be obtained from them in written form and signed. If the participants are underage students, informed consent is obtained from their parents or legitimate guardians. It is important for both the researcher and the participants that they know their rights equally. The participants need to be informed about the purpose of the study, what will be expected from them, their roles and activities, and any risk is involved. The participants need to be aware of the situations where they can withdraw from the process. Regarding anonymity, confidentiality and the people to whom the results will be disseminated needs to be informed to participants.
In some research studies, an ethical dilemma occurs when if the topic of the study is shared with the participants then it becomes a sort of influence or making them change their attitudes towards the study. In not sharing the topic or purpose of the study, ethically is not acceptable. Therefore, in such studies, the researchers in order to get true data from the participants, hide the actual topic or purpose from the participants. Therefore, it is suggested that in such studies the researchers need to inform their advisor, or Human Subject Review Board or Institutional Review Committee for taking guidelines to maintain ethical standards in the research study.
It is the responsibility of the researcher that to uphold professional standards of conduct, clarify their roles and responsibility, have the required level of competence to deal with the personal data of the participants. In the literature review cite the actual author whose study or idea has been taken. Frankly sharing the intellectual property of any author is worth is the ethics of research study. Other than this in professional responsibility is the data collected needs to actual data used in the study not manipulated or biased. The researchers' own beliefs and back should not influence the research study.
The researchers need to be aware of their social responsibility that their research work ultimately contributes to the welfare of the community and society. This is the research ethics that they make and apply their knowledge public in order to benefit the community as a whole. They need to undertake such studies which will be contributing to mitigate the factors affecting human lives. Therefore, it is the research ethics that the researchers need to avoid misuse of the findings of their research studies. They should leave their personal advantages on dispense of the sufferings of community and society.
Research work will be considered bearing a high level of integrity if that has been carried out following the ethics of the research. Research studies in social sciences directly concern human participants and their lives. Their private and personal beliefs, knowledge, attitudes, experiences, values are accessed to solve the problems related to social science through research work. Therefore, according to the research ethics, the researchers need to consider the major ethical considerations such as confidentiality, anonymity, dealing with deception, professional and social responsibility while conducting research studies. Following these ethical considerations, the integrity of research studies will be ensured.
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