Adelmira B.

Mateo, RN
• A researcher has to consider certain principles in doing the
research. These are some things you ought to do, or supposed
to do, or supposed to observe, to consider, to adhere, so as not
to harm the participants, the process, the findings, and the
readers of the findings. Ethical standards promote the values
that are essential to collaborative work, such as trust,
accountability, mutual respect and fairness. (David, 2015)
These ethical principles are also known as research ethical
principles and are also given much consideration by Polit and
Hungler (1999:133)

1. The principle of autonomy (we ought to respect the right to

self-determination) - ensuring that any consent to participate
in the study is informed or real.

Principle of respect to the human dignity.

2. Non-Maleficence principle (we ought not to inflict evil or harm) -
we may not inflict harm on or expose people to unnecessary risk as
a result of our research project. This is particularly important if our
subjects may not be competent in some way, such as, the ability to
give informed consent.

3. Beneficence principle (we ought to further others’ legitimate

interests) - This is the principle that obliges us to take positive steps
to help others pursue their interests. These interests clearly have to
be legitimate.

4. The principle of justice (we ought to ensure fair entitlement to

resources) - This principle is concerned with people receiving their
due. This means people should be treated equally in every way
since not all people are equally competent or equally healthy.
1. Veracity - habitual truthfulness
2. Privacy - freedom from public attention/ anonymity; When
subjects enroll in a research study, they grant access to
themselves, but this is not unlimited access
3. Confidentiality - refers to how much information a participant
may wish to share and entrust with the researcher, as well as
how the information they share is obtained, protected and
stored
4. Fidelity - keeping our promises and avoiding negligence with
information. If we agree for example, to send a summary of
our research findings to participants in a study we should do
so.
1. Bias – process where the
researcher influences the results in
order to portray a certain outcome

2. Plagiarism - act of quoting,

referring, considering academic
material as if they were of own
initiatives without the permission of
the author or the originator; it also
cuts across issue to do with copyright
and patent rights of the original
scholar/ researcher/ innovator.
• Informed Consent – the core idea of informed consent is that a
participant agreeing to take part in research should do so
voluntarily, without coercion and with sufficient understanding of
the research procedures, potential risks and potential benefits.

in case of minors or mentally impaired persons, whose exercise of

choice is legally governed, consent must be obtained from the
person or agency legally authorized to represent the interests of the
individual. (Bruce, 2001)
Informed consent is an ongoing process and must be renegotiable so
that participant understanding and comfort is assured. Information
provided to participants (either verbally or written) should include:

• Research aims and objectives

• Details of information that is being sought
• How responses will be recorded and used
• The degree to which participants will be consulted prior to
publication
• How findings will be communicated to participants
• Potential benefits and consequences of participation, including
potential risks
• Reimbursements or incentives (if any) that will be provided for
participating in the study
• The name of the organisation that is funding the research
• Contact details for someone independent of the research process for
inquiries and complaints
• An explanation of the voluntary nature of the participant’s
involvement
• The name of the investigator.
• Implied consent – indicated in emergency situations or
individual’s action
• Active Consent - Formal written permission by an informed
parent or legal guardian that allows a child to participate in a
research project
• Passive Consent - Assumption that parental permission is
granted if parents do not return a refusal form after being
informed about the study's purpose
• Non-Discrimination - Avoid discrimination against colleagues or
students on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity, or other factors not
related to scientific competence and integrity.
• Legality - Know and obey relevant laws and institutional and
governmental policies.
• Animal Care - Show proper respect and care for animals when
using them in research. Do not conduct unnecessary or poorly
designed animal experiments
• Human Subjects Protection - When conducting research on
human subjects, minimize harms and risks and maximize
benefits; respect human dignity, privacy, and autonomy; take
special precautions with vulnerable populations; and strive to
distribute the benefits and burdens of research fairly.
• Adler, P. A. (1985). Wheeling and Dealing. New York: Columbia University Press
• ACFID - The Australian Council for International Development (2015) Guidelines For Ethical
Research And Evaluation In Development. Australia, OCFID
• Bruce L. Berg (2001) Qualitative Research Methods for the social Sciences, Allyn & Bacon:
Pearson Education Company New York
• David B. Resnik (2015) What is Ethics in Research & Why is it Important?, Retrieved from,
www.niehs.nih.gov/research/resources/bioethics/whatis/ at 15.37 on 7th May 2016
• Getu Degu and Tegbar Yigzaw (2006) Research Methodolgy, EPHTI, Ethiopia Gibbons, D. C.
(1975). Unidentified research sites and fictitious names. American Sociologist 10, 3236
• Hagan, F. E. (1993). Research Methods in Criminal Justice and Criminology. New York:
Macmillan.
• Kidder, Rushoworth (2003). How Good People Make Tough Choices: Resolving the Dilemma of
Ethical Living, New York Harper Collins
• Martyn Barrett (2006 ), Practical and Ethical Issues in Planning Research, Breakwell-3389-Ch02
• May, T (2011). „Social Research: Issues, methods and process’, Values and ethics in the research
process, Third Edition, Open University Press: Buckingham.
• Oxfam Australia (2009). Oxfam Australia Research Ethics Guidelines. Melbourne: Oxfam
Australia.