Ethical Research - Free Essay Example

Introduction

Conducting valid and ethical research today requires one to ensure that the information being researched contains the highest level of integrity. The adage, “honesty is the best policy” parameters valid research. Many researchers rely heavily on factual truths to maintain proper ethics in research. It should consider the following components: social and clinical value, scientific validity, fair subject selection, favorable risk-benefit ratio, independent review, informed consent, respect for potential, and the enrolled subjects. These components will validate the outcome to be a reliable one.

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The social and clinical value component is designed to answer specific questions. The answer should be significant enough to justify asking the intended group to accept some risk or inconvenience at that time. The research question should contribute to the scientific understanding of health or improve the ways of preventing, treating or caring for people with a given situation to justify exposing participants to the probability and responsibility of the research (Vanclay et al., 2013).

Scientific Validity

The second component is scientific validity to understand and evaluate a study’s measurement error, or the reliability (trustworthiness) and validity (truth) of its methods and measurement strategies, in part because the extensive body of literature associated with validity and reliability can be overwhelming. Validity addresses the inference of truth of a set of statements. The set consists of symbols that represent mathematical formulae and/or words and statements that comprise a line of reasoning in which some of the statements support acceptance of others (conclusions). In science, validity is essential to a research proposal’s theoretical framework, design, and methodology, including how well specific tools or instruments measure what they are intended to measure (Vanclay et al., 2013). It is considered an ideal state, to be pursued but never obtained. It is well known that the researcher will never achieve an absolute outcome; scientists nevertheless engage in continuous efforts to attain a degree of validity.

The third component is the selection, recruitment, and retention should distribute burdens and benefits properly, to ensure the social value of research, enhance scientific validity, minimize risks to subjects and protect the vulnerable by balancing the competing goals investigators, review committees and minimize the conflict (Vanclay et al., 2013).

The fourth component is favorable risk-benefit ratio. The assessment of risks and benefits are two main hallmarks in any ethical decision to approve clinical research. “Research risks must be minimized and acceptable in relation to the prospective benefits to study participants or of the knowledge to be generated” (Vanclay et al., 2013). Risks are defined in terms of the magnitude and “probability of harm or injury (physical, psychological, social, or economic) occurring as a result of participation in a research study,” while benefits are “valued or desired outcome[s]” (Freeman, 2017).

Independent Review

The fifth component is an independent review. Independent review is a chance to receive feedback from individuals with expertise and perspectives that will not be represented in the development of the group. Independent review includes review by peers, experts (e.g. with clinical, methodological, or technical expertise) and others (e.g. consumers, expected users and other stakeholders) (Freeman, 2017). It presents an opportunity for specialists in relevant fields, including non-experts, to comment on a full draft guideline, including recommendations, before it is published. In addition to quality assurance, independent reviews can improve uptake of guidelines by increasing the legitimacy of recommendations, signifying to users that they are a trustworthy resource. It represents the synthesis of a large body of evidence, and their quality can be difficult for a single reviewer to judge (Freeman, 2017).

The sixth component is informed consent. Informed consent process in research is the constant concern to regulatory authorities in the field and presents a challenge for both the specialists and the individual involved (Fowl & Jones, 1998). Informed consent is a process that should adequately match the complexity of the research. In analyzing the behaviour of the participants during the informed consent, the process is related to the research that is being performed (Fowl & Jones, 1998).

The seventh component is respect for potential. The individual participants should be treated with respect throughout the entire process. The respect for potential should maintain the following items: respecting their privacy with confidentiality, allowing the participant to withdraw from the research at any time, informing the participant of the risk factor, monitoring their welfare, and informing the participant of what was learned from the research.

Finally, the enrollment of the subjects consists of a voluntary agreement to participate in the research. It is not merely a form that is signed, but it is a process in which the subject understands the study and its risks. The enrollment must be obtained for all types of human subjects’ research, including diagnostic, therapeutic, interventional, social, and behavioral studies. Obtaining the enrollment involves informing the subject about his or her rights, the purpose of the study, the procedures to be undergone, and the benefits of the participation. The enrollment in the study must be willingly by the participants (Rose et al., 2009)

Conclusion

Researchers need to ensure the data or information being researched has the appropriate level of integrity. For the researchers to maintain proper ethics in their survey, they need to consider the clinical and social values, fair subject selection, informed consent and the respect for the potential subjects. These elements work together to maintain validity and ethics during a given survey. Validity addresses the inference of truth of a set of statements. Therefore, the researcher needs to consider the populations' ethics before the selection of a sample.

References

Fowl, S. E., & Jones, L. G. (1998). Reading in Communion: Scripture and ethics in Christian life. Wipf and Stock Publishers.

Freeman, L. C. (Ed.). (2017). Research methods in social network analysis. Routledge.

Rose, S., Aburto, M., Hagemann, J., & Shahnazarian, D. (2009). Informed consent in human subjects research. The University of South California.[Online]: Available at:
https://oprs. USC. edu/files/2017/04/Informed-Consent-Booklet-4.4, 13.

Vanclay, F., Baines, J. T., & Taylor, C. N. (2013). Principles for ethical research involving humans: ethical professional practice in impact assessment Part I. Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal, 31(4), 243-253.