Running head: ESSAY ON RESEARCH ETHICS

Essay on Research Ethics

Rebecca DeRose
Loyola University Chicago

ESSAY ON RESEARCH ETHICS

The following will analyze the ethics of research on dangerous drinking based on the
Belmont Report principles. These principles include respect of persons, beneficence, and justice.
Within the analysis I will discuss how to improve the study based on the Belmont Report and
potential challenges in conducting this study. My assessment of the study improvements and
challenges will also be limited to the information reported without knowing what was provided
in the IRB review process.
The first ethical research assessment pertains to respect of persons. In the Belmont
Report, respect for persons consists of the belief individuals should be treated as autonomous
agents and persons with diminished autonomy are entitled to protection (45 CRF 46). This
signifies students have the freedom to participate, the level of awareness and understanding of
the researchs content and purpose. Based on Neighbors (2012) report, the procedures did not
specify if these factors were taken into account. For example, it indicated the size and
composition of the participant sample as well as the participants surveyed were polled in
conjunction with another study (p. 5). It is unclear to me if the participants were aware of how
the responses were used or, if informed consent covered the responses were for two simultaneous
studies. A positive critique is the research appeared to respect the participants autonomy. As the
trial progressed, the retention rate decreased over time. (Neighbors et.al., 2012, p. 5) The
evidence shown through the retention rate indicates participants were able to choose their level
of involvement in the study.
The second ethical research assessment is beneficence. The Belmont Report defines
beneficence as respecting, protecting, and ensuring the well being of research participants (45
CRF 46). For this ethical conviction, the research by Neighbors (2012) seems to be well aligned.

ESSAY ON RESEARCH ETHICS

The background of the research states Human Subjects Review Boards at many institutions
require some form of a data and safety monitoring plan, which provides protection to research
participants (p. 2). This is demonstrates the premise for conducting the research is to ensure
safety and well being of all research participants.
The last ethical research assessment from the Belmont Report is justice. The definition of
this ethical conviction is to carefully select subjects in a way that does not discriminate. In the
Neighbors (2012) article, the participant selection did not specify how the subjects were
selected. Instead, it detailed the race and sex of the students (p. 5). From the participants section
the reader does not know what the breakdown of sex or racial composition from the entire
campus surveyed. We also do not know the researchers selection method. In this way, it is hard
to determine if the selection process abided to the justice guidelines.
If I were to conduct a study on dangerous drinking, there are several procedures I would
implement to ensure principles of ethical research were followed. To respect persons in the study,
the procedures would ensure survey participants were properly informed about the purpose of the
study. For example, if I were using information gathered from another study for a new inquiry, I
would want to communicate this information if deemed necessary by the IRB committee. One
exception to this I can foresee is if this possibility was already covered in the informed consent.
This way a participant is aware of how the information given is being used. Lastly, included in
the informed consent, I would want to reiterate the option to participate.
In order to ensure beneficence, I would first remove factors making participants feel as if
their decision to participate or not participate was respected. In this way, I would not want an
authority figure, such as a dean, to be gathering volunteers. Secondly, I would want to minimized
harm and maximized benefits. This includes minimizing psychological and physical harm.

ESSAY ON RESEARCH ETHICS

Lastly, participants would be informed of the obligation to report anything perceived as a threat
to their well-being.
For the last criteria of justice it would be critical to ensure equity when distributing the
burdens and benefits of the research (45 CRF 46). To implement this most effectively documents
and forms used would be updated by adding inclusive language. For instance, the form should be
inclusive for people who identify as transsexual or include many options for race on the
participant survey form. Also, I would want to compare who is participating with the overall pool
of participants. If the pool of participants is fairly homogenous, who is being surveyed would be
expanded to another institution or, an institution with a more varied student population would be
selected.
My first concerns when reading the study was how researchers were going to protect the
privacy of the participants as well as minimize the participant risk? At first I was a little surprised
a personalized letter with participants names were sent because this does not seem to ensure
confidentiality of the responses. There is also a tension between the risks of protecting the rights
of the participant and the maximum benefits of the study. Obviously, warning students about the
harmful effects of dangerous drinking is a positive result. Lastly, there are also obligations to
report harmespecially if it is as serious as a potential fatality. My assumption to avoid this
concern is to properly inform the participants about the research and that receiving a follow-up
letter may be a result.

ESSAY ON RESEARCH ETHICS

References
Neighbors, C., Pedersen, E. R., Kaysen, D., Kulesza, M., & Walter, T. (2012). What should we
do when participants report dangerous drinking? The impact of personalized letters
versus general pamphlets as a function of sex and controlled orientation. Ethics &
Behavior , 22 (1), 1-15.
The National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral
Research. (1979, April 18). The Belmont Report. Retrieved February 16, 2016, from U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services:
http://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/humansubjects/guidance/belmont.html