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Implementation of research ethical guidelines Micheline Egge Grung The National Committee for Research Ethics in the Social Sciences and the Humanities, Oslo, Norway
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The distinction between ethical principles and professional codes
The guidelines, § 4 ‘The ethical obligations of research relate partly to norms in the research process and partly to responsibility for the consequences of research. The main types of norms are: Norms relating to respect for human dignity Ethical norms in relations between researchers Norms relating to truth-seeking and reliability The role of national committees for research ethics Possible role of a proposed national board for for scientific misconduct and good scientific practice
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Research ethical guidelines adopted by NESH
National guidelines applying to the fields of social sciences, humanities and law Adopted for the first time in 1993 Contains 46 paragraphs altogether and a checklist (appendix) concerning commissioned research
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Types of (research) ethical principles
Absolute (deontological) principles § 15 Storage of information which can identify individuals. ‘Information on identifiable individuals must be properly stored. […] ’ Principles that require the exercise of moral judgment § 8 The obligation to obtain consent ‘Research projects which presuppose active participation must as a general rule only be initiated with the freely obtained and informed consent of the participants. […] ’
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Two common critiques Guidelines are vague and feeble proclamations
Guidelines function as external ‘high courts’ not in touch with research realities Research ethical guidelines presuppose: Specific, non-trivial norms Solid basis in explicitly or implicitly recognised research ethical principles in research community
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Main responsibility for implementation
§ 30 The ethical responsibility of research institutions. ‘Research institutions must have procedures for enforcing guidelines for research ethics. […] ’
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Ethical committees / boards can operate through…
1. Identification and development of existing norms through dialogue with scientific communities …continually! 2. Advising individual researchers NESH’s mandate: advisory function Main purpose: contribute to reflection 3. Co-operation with other institutions: The Data Inspectorate = a kind of control system for research projects involving personal data
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4. Seminars Consent Research ethical challenges of biographies Research ethical challenges of minority research 2003: Commercialization
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Main obstacles in implementing guidelines
…10 years after the guidelines were adopted for the first time Research ethics a part of the individual researcher’s daily life 5. Education in research ethics Norms under pressure 6. Incorporate research ethical principles as part of contracts - responsibility for data collection and analysis - publication
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The proposed national board for scientific misconduct and good scientific practice
Key considerations: All disciplines Protection of whistleblowers Preventive/educational measures Wide definition of scientific misconduct Composition of board Executive work Treat and settle complaints concerning scientific misconduct Confidential Consequences of the board’s decisions
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