Ethical Issues in

Social Research

Alvin Concha, MD
Master of Arts in Applied Social
Research
Ateneo de Davao University
What we hope to achieve
At the end of 20 minutes, you will be able to:
– describe ethical principles in social research
– define deception
– define informed consent
– enumerate the contents of an informed
consent form
– describe practical issues in participants’
autonomy

4 December 2004 Ethical Issues in Social Research

Ethical principles
Non-maleficence
– Research must not cause harm to the
participants in particular and to people in
general.
Beneficence
– Research should also make a positive
contribution towards the welfare of people.

4 December 2004 Ethical Issues in Social Research

Ethical principles
Autonomy
– Research must respect and protect the rights
and dignity of participants.
Justice
– The benefits and risks of research should be
fairly distributed among people.

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NON-MALEFICENCE:
Harms that research can cause
• psychological harm
• social harm
• legal harm
• harm to dignity

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NON-MALEFICENCE:
Deception
• non-disclosure of adequate information
• giving of incorrect information about the research

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NON-MALEFICENCE:
Deception
• An ethics committee might allow non-disclosure of
all information, provided:
– detailed justification that there is no alternative
means
– harm is “minimal”
– respect of participants’ rights and welfare
– disclosure about aspects that would
affect willingness to participate
– rest of information, especially of risks
involved, are revealed
– debriefing will be made available
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BENEFICENCE:
Researcher’s responsibility
• Ensure that the research is consistent with
– protection of life
– improvement of human existence
– protection and improvement of the environment
– advancement of the science profession
• Give back the results of the research to
the community

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AUTONOMY:
Informed consent
• Consent given by a competent individual who has
received the necessary information, who has
adequately understood the information, and who
after considering the information, arrived at a
decision without having been subjected to coercion,
undue influence or intimidation.

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AUTONOMY:
Voluntariness
• Contracts are voidable when consent is
obtained by:
– mistake: substance of or conditions in the
contract
– violence: irresistible force
– intimidation: reasonable fear of imminent danger
– undue influence: taking improper advantage of
power
– fraud: insidious words or machinations

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AUTONOMY:
Voluntariness
• Non-written consent must be documented
• For a minor child (below 18 years), insane, deaf-
mutes or those who cannot write, consent of a
legally authorized representative PLUS assent of
the mentally competent participant are required

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AUTONOMY:
Voluntariness
• A man’s supplemental consent may be accepted,
but in no case may a competent adult woman be
enrolled in research solely upon the consent of
another person. Her individual consent is always
required
• If the community consents to participate,
individuals may still refuse to participate; if the
community does not
consent, individual members of the
community should not be
approached for
study enrollment
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AUTONOMY:
Voluntariness
• inducement: excessive or inappropriate reward or
other overtures to obtain compliance
– payment
– offers of subject credits to students
– promises of leniency to prisoners

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AUTONOMY:
Contents of the informed consent
• Title, aims and duration of the study
• What you will do to the participants and what their
participation will be
• Risks in joining the study
• Benefits in joining the study, including fees for
participation

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AUTONOMY:
Contents of the informed consent
• Declaration of the following participant rights:
– Right to refuse consent
– Right to withdraw from the study anytime
– Right to confidentiality of personal information
– Right to access of information of study results
and anything pertinent to participation

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AUTONOMY:
Contents of the informed consent
• A statement, below which the participant signs that
he or she has understood all the provisions in the
form and has given voluntary consent to join the
study.

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JUSTICE:
When involving communities
• Understand, appreciate and respect historical,
cultural and social values and beliefs of the
community
• Do courtesy calls
• Acquire permission from the mayor, barangay
captain, village chief or community leader

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JUSTICE:
When involving communities
• Ensure that recruited participants and communities
benefit from the conduct and results of the
research
• Ensure equal representation of all sectors (women,
indigenous people, prisoners)
• Share fairly the benefits and rewards of the
research

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Summary
• Non-maleficence: harms and deception
• Beneficence: researcher’s responsibilities
• Autonomy: informed consent, voluntariness
• Justice: ensuring moral and cultural
correctness

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Thank you!