Research Ethics in Sociology
What are some ethical concerns when conducting research?
Zellner Research Howard Zellner Zellner conducts a study on fatal car crashes Hypothesis= Single crashes are sometimes suicides. Interviewed families of individuals who died in single car crashes. He did not reveal his hypothesis to his interviewees.
Common Ethical Issues Consent and notification of results Data Falsification Data Fabrication Plagiarism (Unintentional/Intentional Conflict of interest -Changing data -Making up data
ASA Code of Ethics Professional Competence Integrity Only conduct research you are qualified to conduct. Integrity Honest, fair and respectful to others Do not be misleading or deceptive Professional and Scientific Responsibility Accept responsibility for your work Respect for People’s Rights, Dignity, and Diversity Value individual’s beliefs, attitudes etc. Social Responsibility Apply and publish knowledge for the common good. Advance science. ASA Code of Ethics
Respect for persons – Respect the autonomy, decision-making and dignity of participants. Beneficence – Minimizing the risks (physically, psychologically and socially) and maximizing the benefits to research participants. Justice – Participants should be selected from groups of people whom the research may benefit. Belmont Report (1979) Respect for communities – Protect and respect the values and interests of the community as a whole and protect the community from harm. Born out of controversial projects and the National Research Act of 1974
IRB (Institutional Review Board) Their primary purpose is to protect the rights and welfare of human subjects involved in research activities being conducted under its authority. Mandated by the federal government IRB (Institutional Review Board)