HSCI 705 Assignment Philosophy of ethics Research Assignment

Liberty University

HSCI 705

31/10/2022

Philosophy of ethics

Introduction

The ethics of a person are built on their principles, which they must then defend. A code of ethics is developed in order to impart some kind of discipline onto the realm of professional endeavors. When dealing with human beings, it is particularly important to follow ethical guidelines since they serve as a guidance in times of need.

It is imperative that researchers uphold ethical standards in every facet of their work, including anthropological, pharmacological, medical, behavioral, and social research. These are just a few instances of the interesting world we live in, where difficult ethical questions crop up on a regular basis. When conducting any kind of experiment on human beings, you are required to get clearance from an Institutional Review Board (IRB) and an ethical committee that has given its stamp of approval. The conclusion of an experiment that included human participants is where you’ll find an authorized protocol (Sales,2020). The following categories of information are included inside a protocol: purpose, subject selection, processes, and analysis.

During the course of an investigation, there are often a great deal of unethical problems that come to light. As a result, it is very important to have knowledge that is truthful and correct, and that is relevant to the techniques of study and inquiry that you do specifically. You are required to take into consideration the participant’s privacy rights, the confidentiality of their information, and their permission if you use personally identifiable information about them (Beauchamp,2021). Also take into consideration safety concerns, such as the safeguarding of personally identifiable information and the preservation of the information technology resources used throughout a study endeavor. It is crucial that while doing research you have an understanding of the distinctions between justified retention and inappropriate retention of the data that you obtain.

Mission statement

The following is an excerpt from my personal mission statement: “To employ research to achieve health equality for the neglected and vulnerable communities of the globe.” The following objectives are included under this mission statement:

• Providing assistance to those who are not receiving it

• Working to increase health equality

• Making use of research to increase health equity for those who are disadvantaged and vulnerable across the globe.

These three primary goals seem to me to be inextricably linked to one another. As an investigator, my mission statement is founded on the fundamental principles that guide my work. If a researcher’s values are not the same as or do not coincide with the ethical norms of an organization, there is a significant possibility that the researcher may compromise or violate the rules of the institution (Beauchamp,2021). How can you properly compose a mission statement that will assist your professional endeavors? Consider your values, which include your mind, body, and spirit. This is one technique to accomplish this goal. Using these three as a foundation offers the possibility of developing a mission statement that is comprehensive in scope.

Ethical philosophy

It is impossible for research to be unethical if it is carried out in a responsible and honest manner, with the participation of all relevant parties and their full awareness and consent. This is the central tenet of my ethical philosophy (Moore,2020). Being transparent in all research efforts, as well as open and honest about what you are doing and why you are doing it, is an important part of research ethics. Ethics are not about what is good and bad (Sales,2020). Conducting highquality research using methodologies that are appropriate is essential to upholding ethical standards in the scientific community. One way to look at ethics is as a set of standards for determining what constitutes suitable and improper amounts of attention to concerns of consent (among other things). The most important thing to understand is that the final goal here is to do credible scientific research.

Ethical principles and philosophical guides to decision making in research

My ethical standards in research are not straightforward, but rather have been carefully crafted with consideration given to how they connect to my own beliefs and the theologies that I have researched. The following code of ethics is one with which I either fully identify or with which I am willing to come to terms:

• Regard human dignity, which includes respect for the dignity of individuals, respect for their integrity, and respect for their autonomy when it comes to decision-making.

• Respect otherness, which is respecting the racial, cultural, and religious identities of other people and caring for their well-being.

• Respect rights, including the right of individuals to control the decisions that affect their life, as well as their right to privacy and safety.

• Show respect for responsibilities, and acknowledge that individuals have the right to decide for themselves how and where they want their life to go.

• Respect the honesty of the investigation; the pursuit of truth must be conducted without the use of deceit, fraud, or coercion.

• Respect individual autonomy. The investigation of the production of knowledge must not interfere with individual decisions regarding personal life, such as marriage, the

ascription of occupational status, or other choices that may affect individuals in their dayto-day lives. Examples of such decisions include:

• Recognize the value of collaboration, since valid research can only be conducted when several researchers work together freely.

• Honor for the scientific community

The process of decision making is guided by philosophical and ethical considerations. Human dignity is the first and most important principle of my ethics as a researcher, and it serves as the basis for all of the other ethical concepts (Shafer-Landau,2017). My view is that God created people as equal creatures who are capable of breathing, thinking, feeling, speaking, and experiencing their lives on their own terms. This, I believe, is where human dignity originates. A moral value that is important to me is showing respect for human dignity. The importance of human dignity to both my personal values and my professional ethics as a researcher cannot be overstated. Many academics hold the view that science is either morally neutral or, at worst, unethical since it undermines fundamental concepts of human dignity (Moore,2020). This perspective is predicated on an absolutizing approach, which puts science in an absolute moral category that is not confined to its function or application, but rather indicates that it has no reference to the morality of humans.

As a Christian, I do not believe that science is intrinsically sinful or that it undermines the dignity of the human person. On human dignity, the bible claims that “God has given us eternal life and this life is in his Son” (1 John 5:11). I believe that this applies to humans as well. We should not treat God’s creations with disrespect or inhumanely. On the other hand, I regard science more as a tool that can either be utilized to serve mankind or to hurt them. My experience has led me to assume that many other scientists approach the application of their work with the same commitment to respecting human dignity that I do. On the other hand, I believe that some scientists lose sight of the fundamental worth of human life when they devote their careers to researching mortality (Shafer-Landau,2017). As long as they can earn money off of their subjects, there are certain individuals who do not care about the dignity of other people. In either scenario, my commitment to the moral concept of human dignity compels me to honor the dignity of persons in the weakest possible situation and to treat them with fairness and justice in my study and in any other endeavor that has an effect on them.

The importance of respecting one’s family, one’s beliefs, and one’s experiences has been instilled in me from a young age. In my opinion, one of the most fundamental ways to show love for another person is to respect them. If this is not the case, how can you claim to love other people if you do not respect them and the viewpoints they hold? This guiding concept is adaptable to a wide variety of settings and may be used at any point in one’s life. I am able to appreciate other people’s thoughts and perspectives, even when they are in direct opposition to my own, since I am aware that everyone has the right to their own opinions and beliefs

(Gregory,2018). Respect for others is more than just an ethical principle; it is a way of being that should be used in all part of our life, including research. Respect for others is more than just an ethical principle; it is a manner of being.

To respect the rights of other people requires both the protection of those rights and the advocacy on one’s own behalf in favor of those rights. As a researcher, I am of the opinion that protecting the participants in my studies and their rights is of the utmost significance. It is my responsibility to defend and advance these rights by shielding them from any possible risks they may face. It is important for me to treat my difficulties with respect, even when they may be vulnerable. This includes preserving their feeling of self-worth and enabling them to make decisions that are best for them. As a researcher, it is my responsibility to look out for their wellbeing by providing them with several alternatives and assisting them in selecting the ones that are in their own self-interest.

Another essential element of research and day-to-day living is the moral notion of respecting one’s obligations. Everyone is responsible for things in their personal lives as well as in their work lives. My experience as a researcher has led me to the conclusion that, in order to maintain my status as a professional, I am obligated to make every effort to publicize my findings to the greatest of my capabilities. This includes completing all of the tasks and assignments that have been given to me by my supervisor, working on any research project that has been chosen by the grants committee or the thesis committee, writing journal articles that are accepted for publication by journals and editors, participating in scientific meetings when invited to do so by journal editors or conference organizers, serving on committees that decide the content of research papers and scientific meetings, and ensuring compliance with all ethical regulations.

A fundamental moral value in both day-to-day living and scientific research is the esteeming of collaborative efforts. Being cooperative in research endeavors, such as presenting results at conferences and other scientific gatherings, is an example of what we mean by “cooperation.” Additionally, it connotes a cooperative spirit in terms of the sharing of information and ideas with one’s coworkers (Gregory,2018). When working on a project, thesis, grant application, or other research plans in conjunction with one another, I feel it is of the utmost importance to appreciate the collaboration that scientists demonstrate. Appreciating the collaboration that my study subjects provided is not only the right thing to do from a professional and an ethical standpoint, but it’s also vital.

To respect someone’s autonomy implies to accept their choice, even if that option is not to take part in the study that I am doing. When it comes to respecting other people’s opinion, the bible has it in the verse: “Do not judge, or you too will be judged” (Matthew 7:1). I believe that this is the case. We need to respect other people’s opinions about certain matters and we should never feel as if we are better than others due to our religious beliefs. In addition to this, it entails honoring the choices that people make, such as how, where, and when they would want the material to be addressed at meetings and research gatherings. This entails showing deference to their decisions and abstaining from meddling with their own tastes and inclinations.

One of the most important ethical standards that I hold dear is showing proper respect for the impartiality of investigations. In my opinion, real science must always adhere to the highest standards of integrity and objectivity. Being true to the people you are researching, your colleagues, and to yourself as a scientist is an essential part of being honest. In both day-to-day living and scientific inquiry, truthfulness is a vital quality that is absolutely necessary. Without telling the truth, there can be no such thing as honesty (Henle,2019). Therefore, it is a dual moral principle in which both are given equal weight and consideration.

Respect for scientists and their job entails also showing respect for the work that they do. We are all aware that the scientific method is not a flawless one. This indicates that mistakes and shortcomings will inevitably be included in study findings. The issue now is: what are we going to do about these defects? Personally, I think we should try to make the most of such shortcomings so that we may gain knowledge from them as rapidly as possible and continue advancing the cause of research to the best of our abilities.

If I wanted to publish my work in an area of study that I feel ought to be published, for instance, but only with a prestigious journal, it would be an example of an ethical problem in the publishing industry. On the other hand, a large number of other people have carried out comparable research and are attempting to publish their results. In this situation, I would want to make sure that the work of other people has been cited and presented correctly in their separate publications, and that they have not misrepresented either the people who did the work or the conclusions that they obtained. In my opinion, it would be immoral of me to act in any other manner. Because I want to guarantee that they are fairly portrayed and reference them accurately in my own work, my ethical values necessitate that I do so. I also want to avoid any appearance of dishonesty. In this situation, I feel that I want to do the right thing and keep my moral convictions by following the ethical code of fairness, ensuring that this is not done in an unfair manner. I believe that this will help me do the right thing (Henle,2019). It is imperative that I do this since failing to reveal the job that they did would be dishonest and misleading on my part.

When an issue arises in data management after data gathering, this is an example of an ethical predicament that might arise in data management. This might be due to faulty equipment, incorrect sample procedures, or recording methods that are either insufficient or inaccurate. If I were in this circumstance, one of the ethical principles that I would want to apply is that of honesty, since I want to make sure that the quality of my job is not compromised. I would want to be honest in my presentation by admitting the errors that were made while gathering the data and correctly updating the information that was acquired so that the integrity of my work is not compromised in any way. Specifically, I am referring to the following: If this is done, it will guarantee that other people who examine my data will be able to trust the data that is provided to them and will not be able to take advantage of any errors that were made.

When confronted with a scenario involving human subjects in which there is either no informed consent or the informed consent was not gathered in the appropriate manner, this is an example of an ethical conundrum that must be avoided at all costs in order to safeguard human beings. The bible has it that “Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore, love is the fulfillment of the law” (Romans 13:10). I believe that this applies to humans as well. We should not do harm to people as we love our neighbors and therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. In this particular scenario, I want to make sure that I am respecting the subject’s autonomy while doing research so that I can guarantee that I am shielding the participant from harm. Respect for freedom necessitates that we accept human beings as humans and respect their thoughts, beliefs, and decisions without trying to influence them in any way, instead letting them make their own choices on their own (Alderson,2020). This covers what they intend to do with the findings of a research as well as their participation in an inquiry in and of itself. It is also necessary for us to directly participate in the research process so that we can put our own preconceptions to the side and carry out the study in an impartial manner to the greatest extent feasible. It would be immoral and dishonest to study individuals without having the participants participate in the research process, therefore this is a crucial point.

A situation that arose during study in which animal subjects were hurt as a result of the research that was being carried out serves as an illustration of an ethical conundrum involving the protection of animal subjects. The bible has it that “And let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9). I believe that this verse applies to animals as well. We should not become weary in trying to help and protect animals because at the proper time, we will be able to reap a harvest after all our hard work. One example of this would be carrying out an experiment on animals and injuring them in some manner throughout the course of the research, such as ripping out their eye or causing them some other kind of harm. In this particular scenario, I want to guarantee that I provide enough protection for the animal subjects by making use of the ethical concept of beneficence. The provision of appropriate for others when it is within our capacity to do so without putting ourselves in danger or causing ourselves damage is the primary objective of charitable giving (Alderson,2020). In this particular scenario, I would want to make certain that the animal subjects are not harmed in any way and that they do not go through any kind of agony or distress. This is significant because I want to make sure that they are safe and that they don’t have to worry about their well-being in any way. This ethical concept also recommends that we should give equal weight to the study in which animal subjects participated, so that the animals are not placed at a disadvantage as a result of the research in which they participated. In order to show respect for the animals, it is essential to be truthful about the ways in which they were utilized and presented in your papers, as well as to be fair to the animals. This is an essential aspect of showing respect for the animals.

Being confronted with a scenario in which the Institutional Review Board (IRB) either gave its blessing to an experiment or did not challenge research before it was carried out is an example of an ethical conundrum that might arise from the function of the IRB and informed consent. This may occur in situations in which the IRB is not being proactive and inquiries are not being asked of the participants. Or in situations when the findings of the study are a little bit dubious, such as perhaps could have been the case with the Tuskegee Syphilis Study. In this situation, I would want to make sure that I am behaving ethically by applying the ethical principle of respect for individuals to the way that I conduct myself. This necessitates that we treat human beings as humans and respect their thoughts, beliefs, freedom, and dignity without subjecting them to any kind of influence from either ourselves or others who approve or disapprove of the job that we undertake. In this scenario, I would want to make certain that the people have been handled in a fair manner and that they have all of the relevant facts at their disposal so that they can make a choice based on that knowledge (Bonhoeffer,2022). Any study that makes use of human subjects should be submitted to scrutiny and debate in order to ensure that people are treated in an ethical manner. Additionally, it is essential for us to be transparent on any personal biases we may have as well as any research that may be questioned. This is required because the information that is supplied to a person should not in any way impact their choice about whether or not to engage in any study.

Being confronted with a predicament in which the mentor does not put the welfare of his or her mentees as their top priority is an example of an ethical conundrum that might arise in the context of mentoring. One example of this would be a teacher who was solely concerned in advancing his or her personal career, so that they could shirk the obligations and responsibilities that came along with their position as a teacher. In this scenario, I would want to make sure that I am acting ethically by applying the ethical principle of fairness to the way that I conduct myself. Because of this, it is necessary for us to treat everyone involved fairly whenever it is practicable to do so (Williams,2018). This is significant because it compels us to treat other people with the decency and respect that is due, as well as to ensure that we do not personally profit more than is warranted. Additionally, it ensures that we do not take advantage of others in any way. In addition to this, it is necessary for us to work towards equality in order to ensure that no one person has an advantage over another.

When a situation arises in which the student has become dependent on the mentor to supply him or her with information, this is another illustration of an ethical dilemma that can arise in the context of mentoring (Williams,2018). If I were in this situation, I would want to make sure that

I was behaving ethically by applying the ethical value of justice and fairness to all I did. Because of this, it is necessary for me to make a contribution to the connection in the form of equity so that we do not get more from it than we have contributed. It is also essential that we make certain not to take advantage of a person who has less power than we have and who, as a result, is unable to obtain any value back for what they have put into our connection. This is significant because it is immoral for us to gain from a connection with another person when that person does not also benefit from the relationship.

Conclusion

Even if the people we work with are considered our colleagues, I do not believe that it is possible for all of us to get along with each and every one of the other people we work with. Because I value autonomy, cooperation, and responsibility, it is imperative that I acknowledge and respect the fact that each of us holds unique beliefs and perspectives regarding matters of science and morality (Singer,2021). I must acknowledge and respect these differences in order for all of us to be able to work together in a manner that is amicable.

As a researcher, I consider these ethical principles to be absolutely necessary for two primary reasons. First, because I believe them to be correct, and second, because I am certain that the beliefs I hold are the ones that will lead to my continued adherence to these ethical principles. My life is directed by these beliefs, and they help me navigate the waters of free will when it comes to choosing choices. In my research life, these ethical principles serve as a compass for me. In order for someone to agree with these concepts, it is necessary to persuade them through the application of strategies that are acceptable to all parties involved, while also ensuring that there is no element of coercion or fraud in play. These guiding principles are quite straightforward and help me make decisions regarding the kind of research I want to conduct. In addition, these ethical concepts are discussed within the framework of society to illustrate the extent to which I am influenced by society and how I integrate it into my life (Singer,2021).

Because it is honest with the truths it presents and because it is consistent with who I am as an individual, I feel compelled to conduct research that is ethically sound because it is honest with the truths it presents. On honesty, the bible has it that “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life” (John 10:10). I believe that this applies to humans as well. We should not lie in our researches or steal from others because everyone deserves a rich and satisfying life. As a person who believes, I think it is important to be true to one’s own religious convictions while also being open to cooperating with people who adhere to other faiths or have no faith at all, despite the fact that those people might not understand some of my theological convictions, such as my faith in God. Those who do not know me personally but who utilize the research that I carry out as a foundation for their own work should, in my opinion, keep my privacy a secret and show respect for the fact that it is an integral part of who I am as a person (Bonhoeffer,2022). Because depending on my own sense of integrity allows me to do research in an ethical way, which in turn demonstrates respect for individuals I do not know, I feel that I have a responsibility to conduct research in an ethical manner.

References

Bonhoeffer, D. (2022). Ethics. Simon and Schuster.

Moore, G. E. (2020). Ethics (Vol. 52). H. Holt.

Singer, P. (2021). Practical ethics. Cambridge university press.

Gregory, I. (2018). Ethics in research. A&C Black.

Sales, B. D., & Folkman, S. E. (2020). Ethics in research with human participants. American Psychological Association.

Alderson, P., & Morrow, V. (2020). The ethics of research with children and young

people: A practical handbook. Sage.

Aguinis, H., & Henle, C. A. (2019). Ethics in research. Handbook of research methods in

industrial and organizational psychology, 34-56.

Beauchamp, T. L. (2021). Philosophical ethics: An introduction to moral philosophy.

Shafer-Landau, R. (2017). Ethics as Philosophy. Metaethics after moore, 209.

Williams, B. (2018). Ethics and the Limits of Philosophy. Routledge.