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1 introduction to_research_ethics

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Tejasvi Bhatia
Tejasvi Bhatia

This document discusses the relationship between research and ethics. It argues that research is not isolated from society and is influenced by social, political, and ethical factors. While research aims to be objective, facts are interpreted within theoretical frameworks shaped by researchers' backgrounds. The document also notes that research has profound impacts on society through technological applications, and that ethical decisions must be made at all stages of the research process. It aims to show the interconnection between research, technology, and society, and why ethics cannot be separated from research.

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An Introduction to Research Ethics TEJASVI BHATIA
But what has ethics got to do with research? Is ¡°pure¡± research above ethics and morality? Is ethics and morality to do with technology and politics (the appliance of research) not research itself?
Science as a black box RESEARCH TECHNOLOGY SOCIETY One view of research might be that it is isolated from society ¨C although it influences society it is isolated from it with its own ?Sociology ?Norms ?Ethics MANAGEMENT POLITICS
Research is defined by its special methods ? Experimentation, observation, analysis, ? Objective ? Theorizing ? As if it transcends ethical and political considerations Scientific research
Research is a system of organized knowledge above mundane considerations ? Archival aspect ? Information about natural phenomena ? Acquired by research ? Organized in coherent theoretical schemes ? Published in books and journals ? Historical process
Objective facts "Now, what I want is, Facts. Teach these boys and girls nothing but Facts. Facts alone are wanted in life. Plant nothing else, and root out everything else. You can only form the minds of reasoning animals upon Facts: nothing else will ever be of any service to them. This is the principle on which I bring up my own children, and this is the principle on which I bring up these children. Stick to Facts, sir!" Thomas Gradgrind in Hard Times by Charles Dickens 1854
But facts are not completely objective ¨C they are not isolated from the society that gave rise to them Facts can only be recorded in the framework of a theory. The history, the environment, the culture, the politics, the religion, the personality of the scientist all influence the theory and therefore the facts recorded. Research cannot be isolated from society and an ethical system Which is brighter, a snowball seen indoors or a lump of coal outside? A bright, sunlit day is about one hundred times brighter than a room lit by electric light. If we use a light meter to measure the absolute number of photons being reflected, the outdoor coal registers a higher value than the indoor snowball. The coal is brighter, and more photons are hitting your retina, sending a stronger signal to your brain.
¡°Get your facts first, and then you can distort them as much as you please.¡± Mark Twain (1835 - 1910) ¡°If the facts don't fit the theory, change the fact.¡± Albert Einstein (1879 - 1955) ¡°The important thing in science is not so much to obtain new facts as to discover new ways of thinking about them.¡± Sir William Bragg (1862 - 1942) ¡°Science is facts; just as houses are made of stones, so is science made of facts; but a pile of stones is not a house and a collection of facts is not necessarily science.¡± Henri Poincare (1854 - 1912) ¡°There are no facts, only interpretations.¡± Friedrich Nietzsche (1844 - 1900) ¡°We want the facts to fit the preconceptions. When they don't, it is easier to ignore the facts than to change the preconceptions.¡± Jassamyn West (1907¨C1984) It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859 - 1930)
The separation of academic and industry/technology/society is illusory ? Research transforms society AND ? The inner workings of science are changed by the social forces acting on it even down to the philosophical and psychological level ? Ethical decisions have to be made at all levels in the scientific chain of discovery
The chain of discovery Industry in SOCIETY - POLITICS Solving problems Technology as INSTRUMENT - ECONOMICS Application Knowledge in ARCHIVE - HISTORY Publication Discovery by METHOD - PHILOSOPHY Research Scientist with VOCATION - PSYCHOLOGY
The chain of discovery Industry in SOCIETY - POLITICS Solving problems Technology as INSTRUMENT - ECONOMICS Application Knowledge in ARCHIVE - HISTORY Publication Discovery by METHOD - PHILOSOPHY Research Scientist with VOCATION - PSYCHOLOGY
The chain of discovery Industry in SOCIETY - POLITICS Solving problems Technology as INSTRUMENT - ECONOMICS Application Knowledge in ARCHIVE - HISTORY Publication Discovery by METHOD - PHILOSOPHY Research Scientist with VOCATION - PSYCHOLOGY
RESEARCH TECHNOLOGY SOCIETY Discovery Invention Because research has a profound influence on society scientists cannot ignore the consequences of their discoveries
Research is often a means of solving problems ? It is intimately connected with politics, technology and society ? Research should be used wisely but this is not for researchers to decide alone
The Impact of Research on Values and Values on Research ? Ethical considerations are to the fore with the development of new technologies and new social systems ? Society is inherently conservative and seeks to set the limits of research activity I¡¯m damned if they are going to make me redundant
Introduction to Research Ethics Research Ethics in Practice Ethical Principles The Research Environment This online course is designed to give you some information and guidance about research ethics. You should also refer to the documentation/guidance provided by your school/ and or institutuion The course is in three sections each divided into a number of sub- sections and there is a final section that provides an outline history of research ethics.

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1 introduction to_research_ethics

  • 1. An Introduction to Research Ethics TEJASVI BHATIA
  • 2. But what has ethics got to do with research? Is ¡°pure¡± research above ethics and morality? Is ethics and morality to do with technology and politics (the appliance of research) not research itself?
  • 3. Science as a black box RESEARCH TECHNOLOGY SOCIETY One view of research might be that it is isolated from society ¨C although it influences society it is isolated from it with its own ?Sociology ?Norms ?Ethics MANAGEMENT POLITICS
  • 4. Research is defined by its special methods ? Experimentation, observation, analysis, ? Objective ? Theorizing ? As if it transcends ethical and political considerations Scientific research
  • 5. Research is a system of organized knowledge above mundane considerations ? Archival aspect ? Information about natural phenomena ? Acquired by research ? Organized in coherent theoretical schemes ? Published in books and journals ? Historical process
  • 6. Objective facts "Now, what I want is, Facts. Teach these boys and girls nothing but Facts. Facts alone are wanted in life. Plant nothing else, and root out everything else. You can only form the minds of reasoning animals upon Facts: nothing else will ever be of any service to them. This is the principle on which I bring up my own children, and this is the principle on which I bring up these children. Stick to Facts, sir!" Thomas Gradgrind in Hard Times by Charles Dickens 1854
  • 7. But facts are not completely objective ¨C they are not isolated from the society that gave rise to them Facts can only be recorded in the framework of a theory. The history, the environment, the culture, the politics, the religion, the personality of the scientist all influence the theory and therefore the facts recorded. Research cannot be isolated from society and an ethical system Which is brighter, a snowball seen indoors or a lump of coal outside? A bright, sunlit day is about one hundred times brighter than a room lit by electric light. If we use a light meter to measure the absolute number of photons being reflected, the outdoor coal registers a higher value than the indoor snowball. The coal is brighter, and more photons are hitting your retina, sending a stronger signal to your brain.
  • 8. ¡°Get your facts first, and then you can distort them as much as you please.¡± Mark Twain (1835 - 1910) ¡°If the facts don't fit the theory, change the fact.¡± Albert Einstein (1879 - 1955) ¡°The important thing in science is not so much to obtain new facts as to discover new ways of thinking about them.¡± Sir William Bragg (1862 - 1942) ¡°Science is facts; just as houses are made of stones, so is science made of facts; but a pile of stones is not a house and a collection of facts is not necessarily science.¡± Henri Poincare (1854 - 1912) ¡°There are no facts, only interpretations.¡± Friedrich Nietzsche (1844 - 1900) ¡°We want the facts to fit the preconceptions. When they don't, it is easier to ignore the facts than to change the preconceptions.¡± Jassamyn West (1907¨C1984) It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859 - 1930)
  • 9. The separation of academic and industry/technology/society is illusory ? Research transforms society AND ? The inner workings of science are changed by the social forces acting on it even down to the philosophical and psychological level ? Ethical decisions have to be made at all levels in the scientific chain of discovery
  • 10. The chain of discovery Industry in SOCIETY - POLITICS Solving problems Technology as INSTRUMENT - ECONOMICS Application Knowledge in ARCHIVE - HISTORY Publication Discovery by METHOD - PHILOSOPHY Research Scientist with VOCATION - PSYCHOLOGY
  • 11. The chain of discovery Industry in SOCIETY - POLITICS Solving problems Technology as INSTRUMENT - ECONOMICS Application Knowledge in ARCHIVE - HISTORY Publication Discovery by METHOD - PHILOSOPHY Research Scientist with VOCATION - PSYCHOLOGY
  • 12. The chain of discovery Industry in SOCIETY - POLITICS Solving problems Technology as INSTRUMENT - ECONOMICS Application Knowledge in ARCHIVE - HISTORY Publication Discovery by METHOD - PHILOSOPHY Research Scientist with VOCATION - PSYCHOLOGY
  • 13. RESEARCH TECHNOLOGY SOCIETY Discovery Invention Because research has a profound influence on society scientists cannot ignore the consequences of their discoveries
  • 14. Research is often a means of solving problems ? It is intimately connected with politics, technology and society ? Research should be used wisely but this is not for researchers to decide alone
  • 15. The Impact of Research on Values and Values on Research ? Ethical considerations are to the fore with the development of new technologies and new social systems ? Society is inherently conservative and seeks to set the limits of research activity I¡¯m damned if they are going to make me redundant
  • 16. Introduction to Research Ethics Research Ethics in Practice Ethical Principles The Research Environment This online course is designed to give you some information and guidance about research ethics. You should also refer to the documentation/guidance provided by your school/ and or institutuion The course is in three sections each divided into a number of sub- sections and there is a final section that provides an outline history of research ethics.