8 Core ethical principles in the conduct of research

Respect for persons

Respect for persons incorporates at least two ethical principles: first, that individuals should be treated as autonomous agents, and second, that persons with diminished autonomy are entitled to protection. The principle of respect for persons thus divides into two separate moral requirements: the requirement to acknowledge autonomy and the requirement to protect those with diminished autonomy.

Autonomy: Respect for free and informed consent

“Individuals are presumed to have the right to make their own free and informed decisions. In these sense, researchers have an obligation to insure their research subjects have decided freely to participate in the research and that they have been fully informed of the research and give their informed consent to participate” (Sheppard, 2019).

Beneficence

Persons are treated in an ethical manner not only by respecting their decisions and protecting them from harm, but also by making efforts to secure their well-being. Such treatment falls under the principle of beneficence. The term “beneficence” is often understood to cover acts of kindness or charity that go beyond strict obligation. Two general rules have been formulated as complementary expressions of beneficent actions in this sense: (1) do not harm and (2) maximise benefits and minimise harms.

Justice

Who ought to receive the benefits of research and bear its burdens? This is a question of justice, in the sense of “fairness in distribution” or “what is deserved.” An injustice occurs when some benefit to which a person is entitled is denied without good reason or when some burden is imposed unduly. Another way of conceiving the principle of justice is that equals ought to be treated equally. However, this statement requires explication. Who is equal and who is unequal? What considerations justify departure from equal distribution? Almost all commentators allow that distinctions based on experience, age, deprivation, competence, merit, and position do sometimes constitute criteria justifying differential treatment for certain purposes. It is necessary, then, to explain in what respects people should be treated equally. There are several widely accepted formulations of just ways to distribute burdens and benefits. Each formulation mentions some relevant property on which burdens and benefits should be distributed. These formulations are:

1. to each person an equal share
2. to each person according to individual need
3. to each person according to individual effort
4. to each person according to societal contribution
5. to each person according to merit.

References

Sheppard, V. (2019). An introduction to research methods in sociology. BCCampus. https://uq.pressbooks.pub/quality-in-healthcare/chapter/core-ethical-principle-in-the-conduct-of-research/