Main Body
Ethical Challenge |
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| Protecting the rights & welfare of individual research subjects so that they are not merely a means to an end |  |
Furthering research interests to maximize societal benefits
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How does a researcher’s opportunity to make a major contribution to a field balance with an individual human subject’s rights?
Does the potential benefit ever justify deceiving people, causing physical, emotional, economic, or legal harm, using a convenient group of human subjects, or only reporting results that support a particular outcome?
Although it is understandable to focus on goals, our society values the rights and welfare of individuals.
It is not considered ethical behavior to use individuals solely as a means to an end.
1.1 Goals and Principles of Human Subjects Protection
Human subjects are essential to the conduct of research intended to:
- improve human health,
- develop effective educational practices, and
- improve products and services.
The relationship between investigators and human subjects should be based on honesty, trust, and respect.
1.2 Case Study
As you read through this training, think back to this case study and see where the researcher’s procedures were correct – or wrong.
A researcher wants to conduct a research project studying the effect of a drug prevention education program for high school students.
The researcher has designed the curriculum and evaluation materials (pre-test and post-test questionnaires and focus group discussion). As well as collecting demographic data, the evaluation will include questions about students’ personal drug use, attitudes toward drug use, knowledge of effects of drugs and related health issues, and the effectiveness of the program. High school teachers will deliver the curriculum and administer the questionnaires, and undergraduates will conduct the focus groups.
A high school principal agreed to let the researcher pilot the program in his school and sent a letter to parents informing them students would be required to participate in the project unless a parent objected. If students attended the class, completed the pre- and post-test questionnaires, and participated in the focus groups if invited, they would receive a passing grade; if they failed to complete any component, they would receive a failing grade.
The researcher planned to give students instructions on how to develop a unique code for their questionnaires (to match up pre- and post-test responses) so they could not be identified. The focus group discussions would be audio recorded and transcribed for analysis.