Monday, November 10, 2014
Ethics of Research and the Research on Ethics
What exactly does ethics mean? Is it defined relevant to the field of interest where it is used as a concept, as a practice, or as a value?
The recent editorial on Science Magazine posted the challenge of having a culture of responsibility as a matter of conscience and political will. Scientists conduct research in order to help humanity but what are the limits of intellectual pursuits?
Share what you think. Help develop each other's understanding what does it mean to uphold ethics in research and what can we do to further research on the subject of ethics.
Culture of Responsibility
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Makatarungan Class, you can comment on your classmate's comment and I will consider it part of your participation in the discussion. You can also link this blog to your own if you want to make your own blog entry on the same topic.
ReplyDeleteOthers misinterpret the meaning of ethics instead they classify or determine it as a “law/s” in research. Ethics and law are not the same. Ethics can be considered as the researcher’s own perspective on how will they act according to the given situation or problems that they will encounter on their study. Ethics can also be considered as a “guiding principles” through the construction of the laws.
DeleteWell, Ethics is a philosophy that involves defending and recommending concepts of rights or wrongs. Ethics should always be present in every research study, because as what had Janella said it is a "guiding principles". It can help the researchers know, their limits specially when they're experimenting about different person. Ethics is also a value that should be considered in experimenting people, because you must know their culture and everything that can help in their research study. Ethics is also considered as a practice of doing the right things and doing things practically. In the article, ethics is seen because they try to understand every individuals' risks and they consider every individual's privacy.
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DeleteEthics in research should always be considered as something with "a bigger picture." If not careful, a researcher may support or exacerbate morally wrong concepts when researching about controversial issues most especially ones that touch "tampering with nature"
ReplyDeleteGood insights! Can you expound more by giving specific examples or scenarios. Please also include in your comments your answer to the challenge questions.
DeleteRight. When it comes to research, everything must be considered.
DeleteI believe in Sam's idea of Ethics and i totally agree of it being considered as a bigger picture. A research is something that contribute to the society and not give it a big issue .
DeleteEthics is considering all aspects that your research could affect. It includes the engagement and training of the scientist related to research, bio safety and bio security, as the editorial stated. When Scientist deals with Ethics, they must consider the culture of safety that led to culture of responsibility. Those who were engaged in research should continue their work and avoid lapses, having lapses could to destructions of humanity. Such as the example in the editorial, Lapses have led to illnesses and deaths in lab workers and in the community in China. There are also this Intellectual limits when a scientist conducts a research, these are the morals and conduct. Once again, Scientist conduct research in order to help humanity, to manipulate viruses but not to manipulate people.
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DeleteI agree with what you said. In addition , I want to say that they should not just simply 'avoid' lapses but they could implement better and stronger protocols in order for all the procedures to be taken in a more responsible manner thus promoting a 'culture of responsibility'.
DeleteScientist are following APA Ethics and Precautionary Principles in order to be more social responsible. Yes, implementing better protocols could mean alot to avoid this lapses.
DeleteNot just implementing better protocols but also applying it on the research study. Having better protocols but without action done, it would be nothing to help attain the culture of responsibility.
DeleteYes, perhaps ethics is not just concerned on who or what they are manipulating. It is also in the manner of how its done, humans and animals could be used as subjects in experiments but there is always a limitation they must look forward with. They should acquaint their selves with certain protocols and should be responsible in informing their human subjects as well with risks of the study.
DeleteEthics is considered to be one of the most important aspects in conducting a research work; more importantly in the preparations, performance and assessment done in research. These ethics also guides researchers in carrying out proper course of action in the research study. In doing research, scientists make it a point to reduce risks even though it cannot be eliminated. It was recognized that training and lab operations conducted by most scientist requires great importance as well as making infrastructure critical. Various works have been made which mostly focus on the research standards and practices for dangerous applications of biotechnology. Several researches have been conducted, yet there are still no possible solutions to be seen. In accordance to what Berkelman and Le Duc (2014) said; scientist may be required to comprehend the risks of participants during clinical trials but what they must have, is the need to engage in ethical training related to gain of function in research, bio safety and bio security, so as to address risks undergone by some people.
ReplyDeleteWe do need researchers to engage in ethical training but the big question is: How ?
DeleteWhat would be the best way to have researchers want to engage in ethical training and to make sure they can get effective training that would really be seen as they conduct research ?
The researchers could undergo a series of test in order to develop and enhance their skills to further improve their research work. Certain seminars and/or performance tests that fit to what they like might be applicable for them to experience. And in which intern could help them in promoting the values that could positively influence them in doing such collaborative works.
DeleteThe application of ethics to research is always needed. It guides the researcher to avoid lapses and to have a study that would not just benefit him/herself but also the humanity. In accordance with this, it was stated by Oskar Blakstad that when you apply ethics, you will consider the cost and benefit of your research. In the article , the benefit of your research is that you’ll be able to find cures that can possibly save the humanity from deadly diseases but it’s cost is that the exact research might bring a much greater risk to the public. They should implement stronger rules that emphasize the need of ethical training in research and to limit research by knowing it’s cost and benefit mostly by avoiding the risk of harming the environment and humanity.
ReplyDeleteGood perspective. Can you suggest any better rules to emphasize?
DeleteThank you for the information :)
DeleteA good rule that would be implemented is a researcher should first study hard about ethics and know it's true meaning. It would be better if they will attend seminars and talks about research ethics also consult experts on that particular field. A better understanding in ethics would make research much reliable and free from harm.
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ReplyDeleteEthics is close to the word "morality", moreover, it can be considered as a value, for it is a moral principle that governs a person's behaviour or life. I agree with the author of the editorial (Berkelman and Le Duc ) that safety of all must be prioritized first. There's nothing wrong with conducting scientific researches, it's for the benefit of humanity, but it should not surpass the principles of ethics. There's a limitation for everything. If there's something or someone that's in risk, we should go back to ethics. Yes, in order to discover something, we should learn how to take a risk: giving effort, energy, money and time, but life of a scientist, doctor, innocent, and student or of a child must no longer put to risk. It surpasses the line of ethics, the moral principle. Taking risk for scientific researches is for the benefit of humanity or maybe destruction of responsibility.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely agree which is why as researchers we should do our best to consider how it will affect humanity. My favorite example would be the Milgram experiment.
DeleteIt was intended to answer good questions such as whether the persons involved in the holocaust were just following orders. To find out the answer, they conducted a social experiment wherein when a person gives a wrong answer, they will receive an initial shock of 15 volts with another 15 added for every wrong answer, or at least that is what the respondents think since no actual shocks happened.
No one really got hurt but the respondents may get psychological damage and become less trusting according to Diana Baumrind.
See?
Good intentions but not everything was clearly thought out. Let us remember that before we try to "improve" humanity we should cherish it first.
Ethics is dealing with unacceptable and acceptable behavior. David B. Resnik, J.D., Ph.D stated that Ethical concepts and principles are used criticize, evaluate, propose, or interpret laws. Ethics and laws are somehow the same, but not all laws are ethical. It is to avoid lapses that can cause harm to humanity. Lapses may include biocontainment in laboratories as stated in the editorial. Risks and Benefits should also be balanced.
ReplyDeleteI agree to what laura has said. Ethics are used to avoid lapses that eventually can harm the humanity as said in the editorial.
DeleteTrue enough. The risks should be in equilibrium with the benefits, If the risks would exceed the expected benefits, then the research must be re-evaluated to ensure the safety of humanity. Researches should be thoroughly evaluated to avoid any lapses that will cause harm even to a small part of the human population.
DeleteI agree that not all laws are ethical. Therefore , we can see the immediate need for a stronger study in ethics. This would not just benefit the researchers but other fields as well.
DeleteI agree on what Laura has said. Also research can both benefit the researcher and other people.
DeletePrecisely, most researchers may comply with the laws on the field of their study, but not all practice the ethics. Merely it becomes just a concept in research that is given less importance, not knowing the consequences of their actions as they pursue their research that results to lapses and causing the harm to the subjects and sometimes with the study as well.
DeleteThe SPE doesn't provide much "Culture of Safety" in the experiment but contributed alot in the benefit of Humanity and the efforts are not wasted. What can you say about this?
ReplyDeleteEthics, sometimes known as moral philosophy, is a branch of philosophy that involves systematizing, defending and recommending concepts of right and wrong conduct, often addressing disputes of moral diversity.
ReplyDeleteEthics comes from the Greek word ethikos from ethos, which means "custom, habit".Philosophical ethics investigates what is the best way for humans to live, and what kinds of actions are right or wrong in particular circumstances.
As said in the Editorial, "Lapses have led to illnesses and deaths in lab workers and in the community", that is why ethics is practiced in their research for them to gain risks and benefits through their actions for helping the humanity from their research, thus their Culture of responsibility to the results.
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ReplyDeleteIn retrospect, just because most view research as a digest of science, intellect, and algorithms, it does not mean that it is a body devoid of moral facility. Research is the source of social and intellectual evolution, and not the bane of its existence. And definitely, it is not the point where "the end justifies the means" for the sake of development.
ReplyDeleteThis is where research ethics should then be put into focus. Ethics in research serve as the humane discipline that maintains the safety and protection of all research aspects for both the researcher and its subjects. Simply, both parties must be responsible for their upright inclinations.
If the researcher intends to pursue this discipline, utilizes maltreatment and the subsequent degradation of human life, then that is not research. That is subjection.
The recent study of the Ebola virus has struck me with the scarcity of its ethics. To understand fairly, the virus /is/ lethal and safety measures can be evidently observed. But even though they are prioritizing the security of the populations by investigating possible cures in order to diminish further infections, they are intervening necessary protocols to guarantee that the virus /does/remain at bay in its "culture cell". The ability to properly manage the experiment and its variables is gradually becoming a gray area.
If this persists, then certainly, there is no more to the lax performance of ethical training (or lack thereof) than there is to the collateral damage.
Affirmative. Even if the researchers are knowledgeable that the study on Ebola virus is very dangerous they still continue to study the virus and find a counter attack of the virus. For they are not only thinking of what might happen to them but thinking of what their study can do to save the population from harm that the virus brings even though their lives are at risk.
DeleteI made a Blog entry on my blog . Check it out and it's all about Research ethics .
ReplyDeletehttp://tloastierra.blogspot.com/2014/09/research-ethics.html
We can also apply ethics in our daily lives :)
DeleteI also did some extensive research on the SPE last night.
ReplyDeleteNow this may seem like an insult to injury for "Quiet Rage", but although Zimbardo initially instructed the guards to do whatever they pleased as long as they kept the prisoners in check, this wasn't the case anymore a few days later.
Eventually, Zimbardo became too absorbed with the experiment's performance and even influenced the guards' violence to continue. His role as superintendent went the down drain; his semblance of control as a neutral observer was thwarted.
Based from the review, I think the SPE should've been terminated the moment the guards' "genuine sadistic instincts" became too real to be considered as roleplay, especially when "John Wayne" demonstrated this exceptionally. Effects of his and his fellow colleagues' cruelty had the detainees succumbing to mindset that they were real convicts.
In a way, yes, it did contribute an ample amount of understanding to the mechanics and stimuli of human behavior. Zimbardo's sole purpose of conducting the experiment was to determine if the intrinsic personalities of the guards and prisoners was the cause of detainment conflict, after all. However, the experiment had turned moot even before it ended; the characterizations on both sides had surpassed far beyond any ethical means. The superintendent himself also got lost in the fray. Aside from that, Zimbardo's hypothesis had been proven wrong by his conclusion that the "situation affects the subject, not their individual personalities". /"What makes good people do bad things?"/
If only it wasn't for Maslach's intervention six days into the experiment, the original two-week duration and its bouts of psychological torture would have destroyed the prisoners indefinitely.
Like Zacch, I also made a blog entry http://bsanpedro.blogspot.com/2014/09/culture-of-responsibility-ethics-of.html
ReplyDeleteEthics in research is considering all the factors that might affect your research. I believe that ethics is a value and a practice. It is a value that should be practiced. In the given article, they should balance the risk and the benefit. The scientists are helping the community to have a cure for the illness but are not aware that their workers are already sick. It's not bad to take risks but we should also be careful with our actions and go back to ethics and review if you violated one. For ethics will guide us and will help us to have a safe Research.
ReplyDeleteYes, a researcher must be open-minded. He must not only focus on the success of his research by minding his data, rather he should call to mind his subjects and and the implicit and explicit risks of the study as well.
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ReplyDeleteEthics is a moral philosophy. It states what is morally right from wrong. Ethics in Research is important to ensure the rights and welfare of the subjects included. The idea of helping the society through new discoveries in various researches is good and will lead to development. However, the design of the experiments that will be used in all the researches must consider not only the subjects that will be used but also the humanity as a whole. If the risks and benefits of the research are unclear, then the scientists/researchers should observe a more careful and safer design for the experiment. If the risks are greater than the expected benefits, then the researchers should think twice and re-evaluate their plans so as to protect the subjects and the humanity from any physical, mental, and other types of injury.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your point! Hopefully , researchers would think more about the harm that the research could bring and develop a 'culture of responsibility' because it would definitely bring more reliable results that is safe from harm.
DeleteIt is better for the research to have reliable Information
DeleteThat's right Julienne. Aside from thinking of the benefits that a research could bring, researchers should also expound on the negative effects the research could bring. That is being responsible as a researcher. A good researcher will not think of the credits that he can get, but will think of the benefits the world will have because of his research.
DeleteEthics, For me ethics is anything that distuinguish from right to wrong. In research it has basic concepts like the Method, procedure and perspective. It defines acceptability, It's a foundation of value system. Ethics had sets and conforms to the standards of conduct of a given profession. The word "GAP" as we know, in research it is called "Lapses", Lapses can lead to illness, death and can affect the community.
ReplyDeleteBut what about the Ethics presented in the article?
DeleteI like the insights you share but how can you related "Lapses" in the article? and how important is avoiding lapses in a particular research?
DeleteHow can you say that Lapses can lead to illness and to death? Can you give a example?
DeleteI also made a blog entry about ethics and my opinions about it. Please do visit my blog and any comments would be highly appreciated!
ReplyDeletehttp://researchalcos.blogspot.com/2014/09/ethics-and-research.html
Ethics about the Culture of Responsibility
ReplyDeleteRecent news has shown that 3,000 African had died due to the Ebola virus. The need to cure the epidemic is crucial and has become an international concern. However, finding the cure for this disease has also raised safety apprehensions. Laboratory workers are exposed to harmful pathogens which resulted to illnesses and even deaths. Such exposure might be inevitable but these workers need to be protected as well. I do not think that it is fair for the laboratory workers to be used as sacrificial lambs in order to save other people’s lives. Scientists must ethically strike a balance between risk of sacrificing a few and benefits of saving the majority.
Ethics is an interpretive data compose of collected logic ideas to state right from wrong in order to defend the reasearch study. Ethics in research is gathering data like experiment in order to come up with the methods and conclusions of the study in moral philosophy. Ethics is important in research in order to come up with a new moral philosophy ideas that can defend what is right from the research study because sometimes in a research study about experiment like in the article the scientist did'nt come up with a good solution of their study, the scientist should come up ethically with their moral obligations to balance risk to sacrifice in order to save the benefit of others. Furthermore ethics is still reliable and important in a research study in order to come up with a good and clear research study
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Deleteethics in research is a philosophy dealing with what is good and what is bad. it is something that every research, no matter what field is being studied, should observe and put into consideration. ethics does not only address the protection and safety of the subjects themselves but also the researchers. it focuses to bring to light the risks that the subjects and the researchers can be exposed to in the course of the research.
ReplyDeletein the culture of responsibility, the risks and benefits of researches concerning dangerous pathogens are emphasized. with such researches new information regarding diseases will help us to understand the pathogen and to hopefully bring forth better solutions for it. but researches like this can also expose the researchers and participants to greater harm.
yes, researches are done for the benefit humanity, to help the development of mankind. but with this we have to find the balance of both the benefits and the risks that it can bring, or hopefully Minimize the risks and gain more benefit.
Indeed , the keyword is 'balance' because this will maintain the purpose of research which is give new knowledge but it is safe from harm. How do you think researchers will minimize the risks and gain more benefit? Can you explain more further?
DeleteEvery Research ethics has accountability, social responsibility, integrity among others. Ethics in research should always have defense for the research. Consider that researchers should have their knowledge about the rules and their skills. Ethics is what classify the right and wrong of a research. It must have the truth that will bring new discovery and the responsibility that every researcher should have. However, the risk of every research is not only the researcher but also the subjects that’s why it has rules and must have permission to whom every the research will be consider, for the obtain information for the subject to know the causes and effect of what the research is all about and to them. Risk like physical or mental effect on the subject. And the potential benefits to whom the authority must have the responsibility.
ReplyDeleteCan you give some limits of the researchers presented in the editorial?
DeleteWhat do you mean by "the potential benefits to whom the authority must have the responsibility"? Can you explain further?
DeleteEthics is one of the most important and crucial part in conducting research. Ethics is the principles of conduct dealing with what is right and what is wrong. In research, it includes the design and implementation of research involving human experimentation, animal experimentation, etc. Ethics should be applied on all stages of research. Honesty, integrity, objectivity, carefulness, openness, respect, confidentiality, responsibility, competency and legality are important once you conduct research. Ethics distinguish an adequate and inadequate behavior. According to David B. Resnik, J.D., Ph.D., ethics is “norms for conduct. It is defined relevant to the field of interest where it is used as a concept, as a practice, or as a value because as we go back to the definition of it, ethics play an important role in any field like in research. In research, it helps us to promote the aims excluding errors, plagiarism, falsifying, and many errors that could be made. Lapses should be avoided in order for the lab workers not to have illnesses. Scientists should know their limits in conducting this experiment because there’s a lot of thing that could be affected. Scientists should be more knowledgeable and trained in ethical issues related to gain-of-function research, biosafety, and biosecurity so that they will know how to handle cases like Ebola. And also, lab equipment should be applicable or suitable enough to use in operations so that it will avoid instances that will harm people. Ruth L. Berkelman and James W. Le Duc conclude that “Scientists conduct work for the benefit of humanity.”
ReplyDeleteIn research, ethics deals with what is right from wrong and good from bad. There are some ethical principles that must be deal on by researchers; it was published by the American Psychological Association. Researchers must be ethical in conducting their study, they must think first if it will harm someone or if everyone will benefit including the subjects. The editorial on Science Magazine helps to develop the knowledge of many about Ebola but there are lapses that lead to illness and deaths of the lab workers in the community. According to the America Psychological Association, subjects must be protected from physical and mental discomfort, harm and danger.
ReplyDeleteEthics is norms of conduct that tells us what is right and what is wrong. Value is the foundation of Ethics. It uses concepts and principles to criticize and to interpret laws and research, it is a practice to avoid a research misconduct. The limits in conducting a research is the lapses in disconnection of scientists in ethics education and process protocols.
ReplyDeleteYes, there are limits in conducting research but what are the other limits of the researchers presented in the editorial?
DeleteYes, I agree :)
DeleteThe other limits is the culture of safety and responsibility. In the article, there are lapses on the culture of safety and responsibility that leads into illness and death in lab works. It must develop a better prospective benefits yet should acknowledge possible risks.
DeleteYes I agree with your point that they should acknowledge possible risks. In your opinion , what could they do in order to acknowledge more of these lapses?
DeleteI think the scientists lack ecological valdity because of the lapses that they made in the culture of safety and responsibility. So in my opinion, they should check carefully the ecological validity of their study to avoid lapses in it.
DeleteEthics is an area of study that deals with ideals about what is good and bad behavior. It is also a branch of philosophy dealing with that is morally right or wrong. In my own opinion based on my understanding, Ethics clarifies the meaning of our moral concepts and formulates principles to guide moral decisions for example right action, obligation and justice. Ethics is about our actions and decisions. When one acts in ways which are consistent with our beliefs (whether secular or derived from a moral authority) we will characterize that as acting ethically. when one's actions are not congruent with our values - our sense of right, good and just - we will view that as acting unethically.
ReplyDeleteYes, scientists conduct research to help humanity but there were some limits in order the people to think and discover it in their own ways. Scientist conduct work for the benefit of humanity because they want to help and support all the people if it is possible. Just like in the given article, it states the awareness of some people involve in the disease of "Ebola Virus". They want to help others by researching the cure in that disease.
As the researchers want to help others by studying the "Ebola Virus", they also make sure that the safety of the respondents are observed and notify since there can be specific effects on the persons participating in this study.
DeleteCan you state the limits? What do you mean by "in order the people to think and discover it in their own ways"?
DeleteDue to the curiosity of mankind different verdicts around the world were discovered. Different studies among living and non-living things raised the awareness of man. But man yearns for more information and explanation about the world they live in; leaving no limitations to research. Consequently conflicts between what is right and wrong in the field of research arise owed to the harm and misconduct it results to. Solutions to conflicts that were raised turned into a moral philosophy that the researchers must follow and that is the research ethics. Ethics is a guideline for researchers. A guide that deals with the principles of safety among researchers and what is being researched. Thus researchers are responsible to conform to this ethics. Ethics is a value that protects the essence of research. It safeguards the ability of research to contribute to mankind. But even though it protects the rights of man and its environment, researchers must not let any lapses in their research and be aware of the things that might arise from their research work for one wrong decision a thousand lives could be in danger.
ReplyDeleteYes, ethics is one of the basic foundation of any research study. A researcher should be mindful not just with the benefits of the study but also its risks. Thus, ethics is a big concept that should be practice by any researcher because doing experiments or certain activities would always lead to something and we should be mindful enough with the responsibilities accompanying this.
DeleteEthics is all about knowing the rules on how to distinguish what is right or wrong, good or bad. It is one of the aspects that should be considered in your research. The ethical norms are sometimes misinterpreted because people have different perspectives, beliefs and experiences in life. In the editorial, the researchers seem to not consider all the aspects of their research. They conducted the research in order to help the humanity but the lapses had led to the sickness and death of the workers. In ethics, the subjects must be safe and should always be considered in conducting your experiment. Rules of ethics must be followed to have a accurate, safe and successful research.
ReplyDeletewhat specific rule in ethics that must be followed by the scientists?
DeleteHow will they ensure that the scientists will follow a successful and safe research? Can you give a detailed example?
DeleteEthics in research are not just all about what is right and what is wrong, what are dos and donts, but are also about what values and rules researchers must always consider to conduct an ACCEPTABLE research study. Collaboration, honesty, objectivity and safety are some of the most important values that researchers
ReplyDeleteshould always have.
Research studies have risks and benefits into humanity. All risks must be avoided and reduced to secure safety. Every researcher must not only consider the individual risks of the study but more importantly the public risks and to whole humanity.
Research ethics serves as guidelines and protocols to all researchers to reduce these risks and the study will become a great benefit to the society.
Everywhere we go, there are always rules, policies and reminders that keeps on reminding us what is right and what should we do. Ethics in research rules that ensures public safety and even brings us to success.
I like your insights!
DeleteI agree, ethics does not only imply in the research study, its not just a concept to be understood but rather its a value to be exercised in the daily.
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ReplyDeleteIn any cases where a certain activity in a field of interest is conducted, certain norms are followed and one of these is known as ethics. Ethics is a set of moral principles of conduct guiding a certain individual or group. It is merely not just a concept rather it is a value that every researcher should understood and comply with.One must assure that it would contribute new knowledge in conducting a research. But in doing this, you must first be acquainted not just with how a study is done/ performed but also acquire proper knowledge in the proper manner of conducting this and certain provisions governing the certain study that would adhere to the protocols in the responsible conducting of research. This would help in having an accurate and well-explained and justified objective of the study.
ReplyDeleteAs what Ruth L. Berkelman and James W. Le Duc stated "Scientists conduct work for the benefit of humanity. When the balance is unclear as to risks and benefits, as it currently is, should we not adhere to the principle of “first do no harm?”" In the recent studies made in the outraging Ebola virus, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had strictly enforced culture of safety and responsibility in their laboratories worldwide. This was due to the issues they had encountered the past years because of the lapses in the procedures made that led to death and illness; worsening of the certain circumstance.
When conducting a research, one must not only call to mind the success of the study but also call to mind other factors like the safety of the respondents, the risks and consequences accompanying the experiment with reference to the subjects concerned. They must perform their experiment with mush precision and must adhere to certain protocols and/ or guidelines. Whereas, Those in public health must develop a better understanding of the real and potential benefits of such research, whereas those engaged in the research should acknowledge more fully the real and potential risks ( Berkelman & Le Duc, 2014). Humans have their own rights as well and must be respected, that's why there is a proper manner in how to address humans as subjects for research. The gain-of-function must address not only the benefit for the person or group conducting the research but for its subjects and if possible the whole humankind as well.
As researchers, they conduct studies to preserve and improve the quality of human life as stated in the purposes of Research in our syllabus. Yet, while doing this purpose, a researcher must know, practice, and understand ethics.
ReplyDeleteWhat is ethics? According to David B. Resnik, J.D., Ph.D., ethics are norms for conduct that distinguish between or acceptable and unacceptable behavior. In the case of the study about Ebola virus, ethics is a concept used for the researchers to have it as an important value to be practice throughout the study. Yes, the researchers want to study further this virus and what are the possible cures but then, they must ensure the safety of the persons involved in this research.
Is the codes and policies for research ethics are important in this study of Ebola virus? Yes, it is very important. Why? As I have said a while ago, the purpose of the research is to preserve and improve the quality of human life then, if the persons involved in this study were not given proper and detailed instructions or information, how can they help advance our knowledge and understanding of these viruses? How can they solve problems regarding this study? See? Ethics plays a vital role in research.
As a student having research class and doing it as a part of our subject, I was also challenged by the recent editorial on Science Magazine stating the culture of responsibility as a matter of conscience and political will. As researchers, we must be responsible enough to conduct studies since everyone relies to the information that we will gather. We must also remember that whatever has done can affect others.
In the world of research, honesty, objectivity, integrity, openness, carefulness, respect for intellectual property, confidentiality, responsible publication, responsible mentoring, respect for colleagues, social responsibility, non-discrimination, competence, legality, animal care, and human subjects protection as stated in Resnik’s general summary of codes and policies for research ethics must be observed.
When we say ethics it is moral philosophy that can help us to know and defend the concepts of right and wrong behaviour often addressing the argument of moral ideas. It also involves the scientific research and includes the design and implementation involving human experimentation.
ReplyDeleteEthics is relevant where we can value the life of the person including his safety and rights. They must have proper training both the researcher and the correspondents before the experimentation made.
In the case of Ebola virus, scientist must have no limits in terms of intellectual pursuits. Based on Ebola victims in African village 'rise from the dead' causing panic and fear among locals, if scientist stops their studies the number of Ebola infection will by the end of January 1.4 million people can have this virus. It is also said that it is very infectious virus that can kill up to 90% of the people who can have this. Due to the early treatment, the death rate in this virus goes down to 55%. Scientist must continue to think on how they can break the outbreak of Ebola. They must invent the vaccine for ebola so that they can prevent it.
Upholding ethics in the research can help us to be more specific and focus the responsibility of the researcher to create the standard and practices in conducting of the responsible attitudes. The main principle is to protect the human subjects and advised them to undergo trainings. Both researcher must strictly follow the rules & regulation and have the proper guidance to the correspondent.
If I am the researcher first I must have the full knowledge about the topics that I will research and look for. I need to know the cause and effects of the studies that it will brought to my correspondents. In case that there will be a problem, I can solve it.
When choosing correspondence, I must look for the participants of my research who are expert and have knowledge about my topic so that my results will be accurate. I must choose fairly without bias.
Of course, Ethics is a concept that deals with what is morally right and wrong and takes care of the safety that a researcher must be responsible of. As you said earlier, if you are the researcher you will first have the full knowledge about the topic and know the cause and bad effects to your correspondence. It is impossible to a get full knowledge about the Ebola virus for a researchers are just starting to research about the said virus for is very dangerous to take care of, in fact many researchers might die before the cure can be made as how caveman discovered that a certain plant can kill him after another caveman ate it. Thus research ethics must really be applied in able to lessen the risk of studying a virus that is lethal to man.
DeleteEthics is definitely intended to have an unbiased research. It serves as a responsibility and a right for the researchers for their study. In my opinion, scientists are not required to have an ethical training because when they study the virus without hesitation it becomes an opportunity for them to fill the information they need and can also come up with a cure and prevent the spread of ebola virus. But people were alarmed about it, ethics serves as an awareness of how will researchers study their research.
ReplyDeleteWhy is it that you are more agreeable that scientists should not undergo ethical training? When in fact most scientists cause harm and more problems rather than the supposed to be benefit from their study because they have not been acquainted with the proper ethics in performing an experiment, and considering also that they are doing a crucial study. Yes it may be enough that they had learned from the previous mistakes they've done in the last years, but isn't it better if these lapses be avoided earlier when doing these crucial studies where a large population could be affected as well?
DeleteIsn't that cure and prevention are the ones they need? How come that ethical training are not required to the scientists when it will come up with a cure and a prevention?
DeleteEthics will give you guides on delivering effective solutions to diverse audiences.
ReplyDeleteThe Researchers study further the "Ebola virus" among the victims to find out what are the possible cures and Informed the people involved about symptoms and possible outcomes of this virus. Ethics is very important in enhancing researchers especially the research.
As a student and as a researcher studying about ethics, i must consider the five basic principles of ethics that are common to all faiths:
Do no harm
Make things better
Respect others
Be fair
Be loving
I like the insights you shared about the five basic principles of ethics and as a researcher we must also minimize potential risk and maximize benefits others because we are conducting research to contribute knowledge.
DeleteHow do ethics enhance the researchers? What fields of research does it affect?
DeleteAccording to whom are the basic principles of ethics? How does the fifth principle of ethics related to the given article?
DeleteI have read about Ethical Issues in Enhancement Research by Fred Gifford
Deleteconcerning how the ethics of research on human subjects may differ when we move from the well-discussed context of research on therapies to the less-discussed context of research on enhancements. This journal gives information about how does ethics enhanced and affect the research and the researcher.
I think the field of research might be affect is the studies in human society as we all know Ethics is all about knowing the rules on how to distinguish what is right or wrong it is something to do with understanding the connections between social institutions and social change.
DeleteEthics and morals are often associated with religion, but schools can also provide important lessons in ethical thinking and action.
DeleteAccording to Weinstein, there are five basic principles of ethics that are common to all faiths
The site title is Ethics in Classroom :)
http://www.education.com/magazine/article/cheating-ethics/
Ethics specifically means knowing what is right from wrong . Yes. it is defined relevant to the field of interest where it is used as a practice, as a concept and as a value. As a value, we are all aware of Social Responsibility ,it means that we are responsible for other people. As a practice, it was mentioned in the editorial that even scientists and lab workers needs to be aware of what they are doing that's why they have precautionary measures in the research about Ebola virus' medication. As a concept, if we go back to the editorial, there are principle of ethics education, to avoid error and research misconduct.
ReplyDeleteBased on what I have understand on the recent editorial on Science magazine, there are some limits of intellectual pursuits, let me cite you some. First, we are aware of the medication and some researches about Ebola virus, as a scientist they should limit their instrument of experimentation, like in the article it was said that some of the developed medication are tried and tested to some parts of Africa that are affected by the disease, this should be limited because how sure are they if their medication can cure the virus or can it make the situation alot worse. Lastly, is that Lab workers and Scientists should be aware of the possible lapses on the research especially in the lab work because this is the goal of this study is to contribute in order to help humanity. And it is essential to have pre cautionary measure upon conducting the study.
For me, Research is a way of contributing to humanity and how they can improve their way of living. Ethics play a huge part in the field of research because it is way of thinking critically on how to help in contributing to the humanity without violating human rights. We can uphold ethics by using what we learn about Social Responsibility and being more cautious on our research study. According to Berkelman and Le Duc , Scientists are required to have a full knowledge about ethics because as we all go back to the goal of each research it is to contribute to humanity and also benefit them.
Ethics is discipline dealing with what is good and bad and with moral duty and obligation. In making research or experiment especially when there is an individual involved and you need to take a risk, you must know your boundaries as a researcher. Researchers/scientists must use the ethics as a concept, as a practice and as a value.
ReplyDeleteAs a concept, because first and foremost they must know the definition of ethics and its deep meaning that lie in that word.
Practicing ethics in research is one of the most important factors. Along with the good and bad comes the moral duty and obligation, your duty as a researcher and your obligation to the individual. It is not always the culture of safety that they must take in consideration; they must also consider the culture of responsibility. They come hand in hand. To practice ethics, they should also identify which work is moral and which is not so that they will come up with their limits.
Ethics is a guiding philosophy. It is a guide to understand the risk of the individual and the experiment, as well. They must give importance not just on their responsibility but also to the individual or person. That's where the value will occur. Knowing that it is not the researcher himself will take the danger but it is more on the individual who will undergo to the experiment. Work not just because it is for your own but work because it is for the safety of everyone.
Indeed, Research Ethics is not just a concept itself. It is something we practice to uphold humanity it is also one of the values that a researcher must have to be a critical thinker and a respected researcher.
DeletePlease visit my blog: http://researchethicsandresponsibility.blogspot.com/2014/10/research-ethics.html. There are videos there that will help you understand research and the importance of ethics in research. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThank you all for your entries. Very good discussion!
ReplyDelete