Ethical Considerations in Research (Essay Sample)

Importance of Ethical Considerations in Research Student’s First Name, Middle Initial(s), Last Name Institutional Affiliation Course Number and Name Professor’s Name and Title Assignment Due Date Importance of Ethical Considerations in Research Introduction In qualitative and quantitative research, using ethical considerations demonstrates the responsibility guidelines that a researcher intends to follow. More so, this section of research informs other parties that will use the study in question to maintain high levels of ethical standards (Humphreys, 2016). In that regard, following ethical standards in research allows scholars to employ a collaborative approach to help others that will reference a study. The goal is to ensure mutual respect, accountability, fairness, and trust (Humphreys, 2016). Notably, for a researcher, observing ethics protects them from causing unintended harm for instance to their participants during a quantitative study (Iphofen & Tolich, 2018). For instance, participants can experience social, psychological, and financial harm. Therefore, when a researcher observes ethics, they will guarantee the safety of private information shared by their participants like in the case of interviews. Purpose of Ethical Considerations When a researcher commits to observe ethics in their study, they benefit in various ways. First, ethics allows scholars to be careful in their research. It is easy to make errors, which can tamper with the quality of a study. However, ethics allows researchers to be careful and avoid negligence (Glattke, 2007). As a result of being ethical, a researcher can critically analyze the data they collect and qualitative research to derive meaningful insights. Second, using ethical considerations communicates civility for intellectual property. In this case, a researcher needs to acknowledge copyrights, and patents from other scholars (Glattke, 2007). That means a researcher cannot use such information with proper consent or give credit where necessary. Third, observing ethics demonstrates confidentiality (Miller et al., 2017). Hence, a researcher ensures they protect private communications such as grants issued to support their publication. Four, ethical considerations in a study promotes responsible mentoring and publication. Therefore, a researcher can advise, educate and mentor learners, scholars, and other interested parties (Miller et al., 2017). The objective of this mentoring responsibility is welfare promotion and allow the target audience to make independent research decisions. Similarly, ethics guides a researcher while in their quest to publish their works. In that case, ethical considerations ensures that a study is not wasteful. Rather, it becomes meaningful by following ethical guidelines when conducting research (Iphofen & Tolich, 2018). Fifth, a researcher maintains honesty in their work by embracing ethics. In particular, by defining ethical considerations, a researcher is compelled to report honest results. Therefore, if by any chance a researcher is tempted to fabricate their results, then they would be contradicting their promise to their audience (Humphreys, 2016). Also, an ethical researcher cannot misrepresent and falsify data to suit their objectives. Six, following ethical considerations ensures non-discrimination and social responsibility. On the one hand, a researcher cannot be biased based on ethnicity, race, and gender. In such cases, the role of ethics is to ensure that a researcher is guided by integrity and professional competence (Miller et al., 2017). On the other hand, social responsibility demands that a researcher should protect their participants from any harm. Such is done through the advocacy of ethical guidelines which seek to protect the confidentiality of the participant’s information (Miller et al., 2017). Seven, by committing to ethical considerations, a researcher respects their colleagues. Often, the involvement in a particular study does not only serve individual fulfillment (Iphofen & Tolich, 2018). It is a contribution to the research community, and being ethical allows one to acknowledge the efforts of others by referencing others. Last, when a researcher specifies ethical guidelines in their study, they devote to observing academic values. The objective of any research is to legitimize science by investigating particular issues to develop suitable explanations about specific phenomena (Humphreys, 201...