Research ethics

Research ethics

By Hadijah Jaffri

Learning objectives

• Define key concepts of research ethics and explain their importance in educational research settings.

• Identify and describe the core ethical principles that guide responsible research involving human participants.

• Analyze ethical considerations and common dilemmas in educational research

• Apply ethical principles in planning a research study, including obtaining informed consent, ensuring confidentiality, and protecting vulnerable participants

Definition of Research Ethics

• It is principles and guidelines that govern how research should be conducted to ensure integrity, transparency, and respect for all participants.

• It involves making responsible decisions to protect the rights, dignity, and well-being of individuals involved in the research process

Word Cloud

What is the importance of ethics in educational research?

Poll

Is ethics method or method is ethics?

• Method is ethics

• Method is NOT ethics

• Ethics is method

• Ethics is NOT method

Ethics supports method

• Ethics is not just a set of rules or principles, but also a way of thinking, questioning, and making decisions throughout the research process.

• It suggests that ethics should be integrated into every stage of research (from designing the study to collecting, analyzing, and reporting data, rather than treated as a one-time checklist or formality)

Poll

Is it ethical to use a paper-based survey to investigate satisfaction of tennis club users among users of a club for visually impaired individual?

• Yes, no problem

• No

Method should be ethical

• Ethical method ensures participants are respected, protected, and empowered throughout the process.

• Using ethical methods promotes justice and equitable representation.

• Ethical method protects learners’ dignity and supports safe, inclusive learning environments.

• An ethical method builds public trust and credibility for both researcher and institution.

• Ethics is not only about compliance (e.g., getting ethics committee approval), but about how you design and conduct your research responsibly.

• It involves ongoing reflection: “What are the consequences of this choice for my participants?” or “Am I respecting their rights and dignity?”

Multiple Choice

Which of the following ethical concerns was most prominently violated in the Stanford Prison Experiment conducted by Philip Zimbardo in 1971?

• Inadequate protection from psychological harm

• Failure to obtain any informed consent

• Lack of a control group

• Deception about the study's true purpose

" Method is the vehicle of research and if that vehicle is unethical, it pollutes the journey." 

Word Cloud

When did the concept of research ethics first emerge?

Timeline of Key Events in the Emergence of Research Ethics

1. Early Ethical Reflections (Before 20th Century)
2. Nuremberg Code (1947)
3. Declaration of Helsinki (1964, by World Medical Association)
4. Belmont Report (1979)

1. Early Ethical Reflections (Before 20th Century)

• Philosophers and scientists like Hippocrates and later Enlightenment thinkers emphasized “do no harm”, but there were no formal research ethics codes.

2. Nuremberg Code (1947)

• Developed after the Nazi medical experiments during World War II.

• Introduced the concept of voluntary informed consent and risk–benefit analysis.

• Considered the first formal document outlining research ethics.

3. Declaration of Helsinki (1964, by World Medical Association)

• Applied research ethics to medical research globally.

• Emphasized independent ethical review and participant rights.

• Builds on the Nuremberg Code but expands protections for participants.

• Revised multiple times (latest in 2013) to address issues like:

  • Informed consent

  • Vulnerable populations

  • Independent ethical review

  • Post-trial access to treatments

4. Belmont Report (1979)

• Triggered by unethical U.S. studies (e.g., Tuskegee Syphilis Study).

• Established three core principles: Respect for Persons, Beneficence, and Justice.

• Focused on behavioral, social, and educational research, not just biomedical.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following best represents the three core ethical principles outlined in the Belmont Report (1979)?

• Privacy, Accuracy, and Consent

• Respect for Persons, Beneficence, and Justice

• Confidentiality, Accountability, and Transparency

• Voluntariness, Risk Management, and Fairness

Core Ethical Principles

1. Respect for Persons

2. Beneficence

3. Justice

4. Integrity

5. Accountability and Transparency

​1. Respect for Persons

• Informed consent: Participants must be fully informed about the research and agree voluntarily (voluntary participation).

• Right to withdraw: Participants can leave the study at any time, without penalty.

• Autonomy: Participants have the right to choose. No coercion.

• Extra protection for vulnerable groups: Children, people with disabilities, or those in dependent relationships (e.g., students) need additional safeguards.

​2. Beneficence (maximize benefits and minimize harm.)

• Carefully assess risks vs benefits.

• Provide support if participants experience distress.

• Design research that contributes meaningfully to knowledge or practice.

3. Justice

• Fair participant selection (not choosing people just because they’re accessible or vulnerable).

• Equal treatment of participants.

• Transparent criteria for inclusion/exclusion.

4.Integrity

• Being honest, truthful, and consistent in all aspects of research from design to data collection, analysis, and reporting.

• Avoid fabrication, falsification, or misrepresentation of data.

• Report findings accurately, even if results are negative or unexpected.

• Disclose any potential conflicts of interest.

​5.Accountability and Transparency

• Be responsible for their actions and make their research process open to scrutiny.

• Keep clear records of procedures and decisions.

• Share data (when appropriate) in ethical and secure ways.

• Acknowledge contributions of others fairly (e.g., co-authors, assistants).

​Ethical Considerations in Educational Research

• Working with vulnerable populations (e.g., minors, students)

• Navigating power dynamics (e.g., teacher–student relationships)

• Ensuring voluntary participation and informed consent

• Protecting privacy and confidentiality

​Common Ethical Dilemmas

• Participant deception

• Data fabrication or falsification

• Plagiarism

• Over-researching in one community

Multiple Select

What ethical principles were potentially violated in Francesca Gino's case?

• Transparency

• Accountability

• Integrity

• Justice

Open Ended

How could this situation have been avoided?

Note: Think about "What research practices could help prevent such issues"?