Research Ethics: Avoiding harm
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Transcript of Research Ethics: Avoiding harm
Avoiding harm inResearch
We might all expect that all researchers would be very
careful to protect participants from at least physical harm caused by
their research programmes. (the principle
of non-maleficence)
?
Yes
?
Because as a researcher it is
our duty
Basic ethical principles stress the need to do well
and to do no harm because just one research study
may cause a range of harm.
In short:
Avoidance of harm is a paramount to all research
since the ethical codes were put into place.
Researchers are normally expected to
adopt risk minimization strategies.
Okay? Okay.
To avoid harm, some researchers used
debriefing
What is Debriefing?
Debriefing
“to carefully review upon completion”
-Merriam Webster Dictionary
Another way of responding to the possibility of
harming participants, is by incorporating in the
planning and running of the research members of those communities who
form the focus of the work.
Participants should not be worse of as a result of their involvement in the
research.
Research should also be designed in order to
maximize its utility and relevance for the benefit of
the society.
Ensure that research participants are protected
from undue intrusion, distress, indignity,
physical discomfort, personal embarrassment or
psychological or other harm.
These are thetypes of Harm that may occur in doing Reseach:
#1 Psychological Harm
Research studies, particularly psychology
studies, can put participants in situations that may make them feel uncomfortable in
order to learn about their reaction to a situation.
It is important that you develop an appropriate consent process
which involves not only informing the participant at the
beginning of the study but continuing to monitor their
progress, allowing for withdrawal at any point, and an informative
debriefing period after the study.
#2 Physical Harm
While this risk tends to be less frequent with a social and
behavioral science study, there are studies where
considering a physical risk is still relevant.
For some studies it may be necessary to exclude
participants whose health conditions increase the
likelihood of injury.
#3 Legal Harm
Unlike doctors and lawyers, researchers cannot protect their
participants’ confidences in a court of law.
If you are likely to gather information about an
individual's illegal behavior (an ethnographic
study of teens that are using illegal drugs) you should take care of their
Confidentiality.
#4 Social Harm
When you are studying an individual, it is important
to consider their social situation and how they
function in it.
It is important that you keep that individual’s
participation confidential and private, even to the level that your meeting
together is done privately.
Thank you !