RESEARCH

RESEARCH METHODS
METHODS
Code
Code 3684
3684

Lecture
Lecture Eight
Eight

PROF. DR. NOMANA ANJUM

 Unit Eight

HONESTY AND RESEARCH ETHICS

8.1 Introduction
8.2 Honesty in the Work
8.3 Situations That Raise Ethical Issues
8.4 Ethics, Policies, Permissions and Committees
HONESTY AND RESEARCH ETHICS

8.1 Introduction

Research integrity may be defined as active adherence to

the ethical principles and professional standards
essential for the responsible practice of research. ...

By ethical principles we mean honesty, the golden rule,

trustworthiness, and high regard for the scientific record.
HONESTY AND RESEARCH ETHICS

8.1 Introduction
There are several reasons why it is important to adhere to
ethical norms in research.

First, norms promote the aims of research, such as

knowledge, truth, and avoidance of error. For example,
prohibitions against fabricating, falsifying, or misrepresenting
research data promote the truth and minimize error.

Second, since research often involves a great deal of

cooperation and coordination among many different people in
different disciplines and institutions, ethical standards
promote the values that are essential to collaborative
work, such as trust, accountability, mutual respect, and
fairness.
HONESTY AND RESEARCH ETHICS

8.1 Introduction

Third, many of the ethical norms help to ensure that researchers

can be held accountable to the public. For instance, federal
policies on research misconduct, conflicts of interest, the
human subjects preparations and animal care .
Fourth, ethical norms in research also help to build public
support for research. People are more likely to fund a
research project if they can trust the quality and integrity of
research.
Finally, many of the norms of research promote a variety of other
important moral and social values, such as social
responsibility, human rights, animal welfare, compliance with
the law, and public health and safety. 
HONESTY AND RESEARCH ETHICS

8.1 Introduction

Honesty

Strive for honesty in all scientific communications. Honestly

report data, results, methods and procedures, and
publication status.

Do not fabricate, falsify, or misrepresent data.

Do not deceive colleagues, research sponsors, or the public.

Considering ethical issues in data collection
 Ethics

 “ Ethic means “in accordance with principles of

conduct that are considered correct, especially those
of a given profession or group” Collins
Dictionary

 principles of conduct
• What are these principles of conduct?
• Who determines them?
• In whose judgment must they be considered correct?
 Related Questions

• Are there universal principles of

conduct that can be applied to all
the professions
• Do these change with time
• Should they
• What happens when a professional
does not abide them?
 The subject of Ethics needs to be considered in relation
to these questions
 Stake holders in Research

 The participants or subjects

 The Researcher
 The funding body
8.3 Situations That Raise Ethical Issues

 Unethical behaviour in research

• Causing harm to individuals

• Breaching confidentiality
• Using information improperly
• Introducing bias
 Ethical Issues Concerning
Research Participants
• Collecting Information
• Seeking Consent
• Providing Incentives
• Seeking Sensitive information
• The possibility of causing harm to
participants
• Maintaining confidentiality
 Ethical Issues Concerning
Researcher
• Avoiding bias
• Provision or Deprivation of a
Treatment
• Using Appropriate Research
Methodology
• Correct Reporting
• Using Information
 Ethical Issues Concerning
Sponsoring Organisation
• Restrictions imposed by the
sponsoring organisation
• The Use of Information
 Plagiarism in Research

 Everyone knows that plagiarism is

something to be avoided, but not
everyone is sure precisely what it
is.
 Plagiarism in Research

 “Chambers Dictionary defines a plagiarist

as a kind of thief – “one who steals the
thoughts or writings of others and gives
them out as his [sic] own”. When this is also
used for gain – in the University to gain
credits for a module or modules – then an
additional dimension of dishonesty is
added.”
 (HEC
Website)
 Plagiarism in Research

 Why Shouldn’t I plagiaries? There are many

reasons why students plagiaries, for example:
• not being fully aware of what plagiarism is
• short-term panic response when an assignment is
due
• time is short feeling a desperate need not to be
seen as a failure
• and so copying to try to ensure “success”
• different academic traditions
(HEC Website)
 Plagiarism in Research
 Positive Reasons for Not Plagiarizing:

• Pride in Your Work

• Real Level of Attainment
• Academic Traditions

(HEC Website)
 Plagiarism in Research
 Plagiarism in Practice – what is it? Plagiarism takes
many forms. Some of the more common are
identified here.
 Copying from a single source
• a published book
• a published article
• the internet
• an essay from an essay bank
• a piece of work previously submitted by another student for
the same or a similar assignment
• copying from a text which is about to be submitted for the
same assignment
(HEC Website)
 Plagiarism in Research
 Unacceptable
 Excuses
 A. “The book/article was cited in the
bibliography”. No – a bibliography is a list of
sources consulted not copied from.
 B. “The book was written by the lecturer and
he/she would expect to find their work
repeated in the assignment.” No – lecturers
would expect several sources to be
(HEC Website)
 Plagiarism in Research
 Copying from several sources
 Unacceptable Excuses

A. “The sources in question put it better than I could.”

No – you are expected to use the sources
constructively and demonstrate that you have
understood them and been able to use them
effectively in the assignment.
B. B. “I did use several sources and cited them.” No –
you did not use several sources, you copied from
them, and did not use inverted commas to show
that it
8.4 Ethics, Policies, Permissions and Committees

Given the importance of ethics for the conduct of research, it

should come as no surprise that many different
professional associations, government agencies, and
universities have adopted specific codes, rules, and
policies relating to research ethics.
Many government agencies, such as the 
National Institutes of Health (NIH)

National Science Foundation (NSF)

Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

US Department of Agriculture (USDA) 

Discussion