Research ethics

Tolga Tezcan, PhD

Learning outcomes

1. Define research ethics and ethical research
2. Learn voluntary participation principle
3. Identify deceptions and unethical practices in social research
4. Discuss anonymity, confidentiality, and privacy
5. Define Institutional review board (IRB) and informed consent

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Discussion question (1)

How would you prefer to be treated if you were a research participant?

Are there activities you believe researchers should or shouldn't engage in when interacting with you as a participant?

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What is “ethical” research?

We can say that behaving ethically means:

• No harm should come to research participants.
• They should agree to participate and know what the research is about.
• Their privacy should not be invaded.
• They should not be lied to or cheated.

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How could we harm research participants?

• By damaging their self-esteem.
• By causing stress.
• By hurting their career prospects or employment opportunities.
• By breaking confidentiality.
• By revealing their identity.

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Voluntary participation

• Any research requires revealing personal information to strangers.
• Therefore, participation must be voluntary: The principle that individuals must choose to participate in research without being forced.
• Informed Consent: Participants should be fully aware of the research and potential risks.
• Right to Withdraw: At any stage without any penalty.

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Deception and research

• Deception means we represent our research as something other than it is, so that participants will respond more naturally.
• Deception means not telling the whole truth, while not actually telling a lie.

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Some unethical practices

1. Faking surveys: Interviewers
2. Faking data: Principal investigators
3. Private funders and principal investigators: The dangerous relationship between principal investigators and private funders

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Faking surveys: Interviewers

Even in the most professional surveys, there exists the potential for some interviewers to fabricate surveys or not follow appropriate procedures.

This dishonesty can distort findings and undermine the validity and reliability of survey results.

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Faking data: Principal investigators

Even among the most esteemed academic circles, there are instances where researchers manipulate or fabricate data.

Such malpractices can lead to the retraction of published articles, damaging both the credibility of the research and the integrity of academic scholarship

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Link - pdf

Link - pdf

Another example of a retracted study

Private funders

Uber targeted academics and think tanks to help it construct a positive narrative, namely that it created well-paying jobs that drivers liked, provided cheap transportation to consumers, and increased productivity.

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Link - pdf

Link pdf

Maintaining anonymity, confidentiality, and privacy

• Anonymity: Ensure participant identities are unknown to researchers and the public.
• Confidentiality: When anonymity is not possible, Confidentiality allows researchers to track participants using personal identifiers and also protect participant information from being seen by anyone else.
• Data protection: Securely store and encrypt data, allowing access only to authorized personnel.
• Avoid sensitive information: Only collect essential information and avoid unnecessary personal details.

"Respect for privacy is not just a legal obligation, it's a commitment to the dignity of participants."

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Discussion question (2)

Scott DeMuth, a sociology graduate student, conducted research about radical environmental and animal rights movements. Authorities asked him to reveal the identities of the activists.

He did not comply with the authorities on the grounds of protecting the confidentiality of his research participants.

What do you think happened to him?

Link - pdf

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Institutional review board (IRB)

• IRB is a review board with at least five members, one of whom comes from outside the institution.
• These members review for approval research protocols submitted by researchers prior to the conduct of any research.
• Every institution that receives federal funding must have an IRB.
• They must determine whether the benefits of a study outweigh its risks, whether consent procedures have been carefully carried out, and whether any group of individuals has been unfairly treated or left out of the potential positive outcomes of a given study (Beyrer & Kass, 2002).

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Informed consent

• Informed consent is provided using an informed consent form that is read aloud and signed by participants before a study begins.
• In research, it is the right of every person to make informed decisions regarding whether to participate in a research study.
• Obtaining informed consent for a research study requires open and honest communication between the researcher and the study participant.

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Informed consent: Example

Informed Consent

Dear Participant,

I am a student in the Department of Sociology & Criminology & Law at the University of Florida. As part of my coursework, I am conducting interviews to learn more about factors related to return migration intentions.

The interview is conducted as part of the one-time and are expected to take approximately 20–30 minutes. Your answers can be as long or as short as you like. If you cannot continue an interview, I will try to reschedule the rest of it at your convenience. Additionally, you are free to stop the interview at any time, and you do not have to answer any questions you do not wish to answer.

There are no anticipated risks, compensation or other benefits to you as a participant in this interview. Your participation in this study is completely voluntary. Additionally, if you decide to participate, you are free to withdraw consent and may discontinue your participation at any time without penalty.

Any information obtained in connection with this study that can be identified with you will be kept confidential to the extent provided by law. The following steps will be taken to protect the identity of all participants:

1. Names will not be recorded, and interviews will be coded randomly identification numbers as identifiers.
2. Data set will be kept in secured cloud system of the principal investigator.

If you have any additional questions, please contact me at __________ or my advisor, __________ at __________. Questions or concerns about your rights as a research participant may be directed to the University of Florida Institutional Review Board office, P.O. Box 112250, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611-2250; (352) 392-0433.

Agreement:�I have read the procedure described above. I voluntarily agree to participate in the procedure, and I have received a copy of this description.

Participant: ____________________________  Date: __________�Principal Investigator: ___________________  Date: __________

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