Ethical Treatment of Participants

Ethical Treatment of Participants

Sharon Boahn

Business Research Methods: BUSI 600

Dr. Sandra Bartholomew

May 8, 2015

Abstract

        The paper will discuss ethical treatment of participants. There are several principles that are applied to research methods to ensure ethical behavior. Twelve articles were used to explain and discuss unethical behavior in research scandals and how ethical behavior has become part of research studies to protect the right and well-being of participants.

Ethics is the theoretical study of the moral significance of social behavior. Ethics is the difference between right and wrong behavior. At a young age children are taught to treat others as they would want to be treated. In other words use respect, manners, and good will towards other individuals. “Norms for conduct that distinguish between acceptable and unacceptable behavior.” (Resnik, 2011). In research it is essential to treat all participants ethical to ensure no one is harmed or downgraded. Due to several research scandals that harmed participants and displaced unethical behavior cause society to enforce procedures to protect participants. In research there are guidelines and principles that are enforced to ensure the protection and welfare of the researcher and the participants.  

Ethical behavior needs to be enforced in research to protect the rights and well-being of participates. There has been many policies and procedures that have been enforced over the years to integrate ethical behavior amongst research. Policies and procedures ensure that the ethical behavior of the research is imposed and within standards. Research methods have been essential in improving the value of life which consist of finding cure to diseases such as cancer, treatment for rare diseases, and increases the knowledge of many other areas of life. The article “Protecting Research Participants-A Time for Change” explains how respecting research participants is a vital part of the research method. That participants should not be seen as just a source of information but as the individual they are. Participants may be part of a study but it does not change that they are human and have a life to live. All risks and potential benefits should be reviewed to ensure the safety of participants. To protect the participants an outside source other than the researcher will examine and evaluate all procedures. “No one should participate in research unless independent review concludes that the risks are reasonable in relation to the potential benefits”. (Bethesda, 2011) The purpose of an outside source reviewing the material is to guarantee that the risks are sensible in relative to probable particular benefits. An outside source is not bias and will ensure the researcher is also protected as well.

The source “Ethical Issues in Research” discusses the purpose of ethics in research and unethical activities. The source explains that ethics are determined by the norms of society. “Societal norms are codes of behavior adopted by a group; they suggest what a member of a group ought to do under given circumstances”. (Zeepedia, 2012) Some unethical behavior could be violating nondisclosure arrangements, violation of participant confidentiality, not giving results, misleading individuals, charging indiscretions, and escaping permitted obligation. The unethical behaviors could be harmful and unfair to all participants. Unethical behavior is outside of the society norm and should be prevented to ensure the well-being and safety of the participants. In order for the participant to understand the research and prevent unethical behavior all the procedures and benefits of the study needs to be clarified, the rights and security of the study should be described, and informed consent must be given by all participants. Informed consent will protect the participant and the researcher. Informed consent will explain all information regarding the study to participants. Researchers also need to be protected and treated within ethical behavior.

William Trochim discusses the change of ethical behavior over the years and what ethical issues are present in his article “Ethics in Research”.  He explains that after World War II there was discussion and research to determine significant ethical philosophies that should be performed to protect research participants. There were two essential matters that began the discussion of ethics. German scientist had incarcerated individuals for experimentations. The individuals were tested on against their permission. The individuals were not given a choice and it harmed their well-being.  The researchers from Tuskegee Syphilis Study did not provide known medical treatment for Syphilis for the participants who were diseased. The participants were observed while being harmed by a disease that they could have had medication for.  “Events like these forced the reexamination of ethical standards and the gradual development of a consensus that potential human subjects needed to be protected from being used as 'guinea pigs' in scientific research”. (Trochim, 2006) After several studies displayed unethical behavior ethics became more valuable and enforced. Forcing ethics in research did seem to slow the research development but preventing harm to participants will benefit the confidence of the results. Individuals cannot be forced to be participants in a research study. All participants are volunteers and are informed of all measures and risks associated with the study. All researchers must prevent any harm against participants. All participants must be promised confidentiality. Meaning no personal information of the participants will be shared with an outside source, meaning all participants must remain anonymous.

The article “What is Ethics in Research and Why is it Important?” by David Resnik Ph.D explains how most individuals refer to ethics as the difference between right and wrong, a professional defination of ethicals would be not to do harm to any individual or partcipant, and a religious definition is not killing any individual. Most individuals learn ethicals at a young age that develop thoughout the years of maturity. Children are given the basics of ethics that ill become stronger with knowledge. Ethics are considerered to be commonsence by some individuals, but if ethicals were commonsence there would not be as many issues in the world. Researchers have to choice between right or wrong decisions. Commonsence does not determine the choice that is made by an individual. David Resnik discusses several reasons why ethics are essential in research. Ethics establish the intentions for research, standards that are critical to perform the work, how researchers are held liable to the participants, and ethical, social values. Ethics consist of trustworthiness, impartiality, integrity, circumspection, directness, respect for intellectual property, privacy, accountable publication, accountable mentoring, social responsibility, and non-discrimination. Training for all researchers will prevent unethical behavior. “Finally, training in research ethics should be able to help researchers grapple with ethical dilemmas by introducing researchers to important concepts, tools, principles, and methods that can be useful in resolving these dilemmas”. (Resnik, 2011)