1. Ethical dilemmas in research occur when participants' rights and study demands conflict, requiring codes of ethics to guide researchers. 2. Major codes discussed include the Nuremberg Code, Declaration of Helsinki, and guidelines for nursing and psychology research. 3. Key ethical principles for protecting participants include beneficence, respecting human dignity, justice, and informed consent. Researchers must consider risks of harm, confidentiality, and deception in their studies.

1. By
Pamela M. Veroy RN, MAN

2.  Ethical dilemmas – research problems in
which participants’ rights and study demands are
put in direct conflict
 Codes of Ethics – have been developed to
guide the efforts of researchers
 The term “ethics” – refers to questions of right
and wrong. The researcher must ask themselves
if it is right to conduct a study or investigate a
certain question.

3.  As conforming to the standards of conduct of a
given profession or group.
 The educator carries out the research with respect
and concern for the dignity and welfare of the
people who participate.
 Basic question to ask when researcher think about
“ethics”:
 “Will any physical or psychological harm
come to anyone as a result of my
research?”

4. 1. Nuremberg Code –developed after the Nazi
atrocities were made public in the Nuremberg
trials
2. Declaration of Helsinki – adopted in 1964 by the
World Medical Association and then revised in
2000
3. Ethical Guidelines in the Conduct,
Dissemination, and Implementation of Nursing
Research (1995)
4. Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of
Conduct (1992)

5.  1. The protection of participants from harm
 2. The ensuring of confidentiality of
research data
 3. The question of deception of the
subjects.
 How can these issues be addressed?
 How can the interests of the subjects
involved in research be protected?

6.  The Principle of Beneficence
 Wherein it encompasses the maxim: Above all, do no
harm.
a. Freedom from harm
b. Freedom from exploitation
c. Benefits from research
d. The risk/benefit ratio
 The researcher should carefully consider whether there
is any likelihood of risk involved, and if there is, provide
full information followed by formal consent to
participants (or their guardians).

7.  INFORMED CONSENT
 Means that participants have adequate
information regarding the research, are
capable of comprehending the
information, and have the power of free
choice, enabling them to consent to or
decline participation voluntarily.

8.  The risk/benefit ratio:
 Minimal risk – is defined as risks anticipated to
be no greater than those ordinarily encountered in
daily life or during routine physical or
psychological tests or procedures.
 Any sort of the study that is likely to cause lasting,
or even serious harm or discomfort to any
participant should not be considered, unless;
 The researcher has the potential to provide
information of extreme benefit to human beings..
No way required to participate.

9.  The Principle of Respect for Human Dignity
a. The right to self-determination
Self-determination – means that prospective
participants have the right to decide voluntarily
whether to participate in the study, without
risking any penalty or prejudicial treatment.
b. The right to full disclosure- the participants
should be fully informed of the dangers
involved

10.  The Principle of Justice
a. The right to fair treatment
b. The right to privacy
 Researcher should make sure that no one else (other
than perhaps a few key research assistants) had
access to the data.
 The name of the subjects should be removed and
must assign by letters or numbers (code) that not
even the researcher can link the data to the subject.

11.  The studies cannot be carried out unless
some deception of subjects takes place.
 Sometime it would be better if the researcher will
employ a “Confederate”.
 Sometimes it is better to deceive subjects than to
cause them pain or trauma.
 Example: The famous Milgram study of
obedience:
 To give electric shocks to another subject whom
they could not see sitting behind a screen.

12.  The dependent variable is the level of shock subjects
administered before they refused to administered
anymore.
 26 out of 40 followed the “orders”.
 FACTS: The individual who were administering the
shocks was a confederate of the experimenter, and
no shock were actually being administered.
 This study produced widespread controversy.
 The study not only has deception but also
harm; some participants could have suffered
emotionally from their actions.

13.  Current professional guidelines are as
follows:
 1. The study conducted must not use of any
means of deception towards the participants
 2. If alternative methods cannot be devised, the
researcher must determine whether the use of
deception is justified by the prospective study’s
scientific, educational, or applied value
 3. If the participants are deceived the researcher
must ensure that the participants are provided
with sufficient explanation as soon as possible.

14.  It affects the reputation of the scientific community
 The public would think that scientists and
researchers were liars; and the overall image of
science may suffer.
 Fewer and fewer people will be willing to
participate in research investigations.
 Our search for reliable knowledge about the world
may be impeded.

15. 1. Participant status
2. Study goals
3. Type of data
4. Procedures
5. Nature of the commitment
6. Sponsorship
7. Participant selection
8. Potential risks

16. 9. Potential benefits
10. Alternatives
11. Compensation
12. Confidentiality pledge
13. Voluntary consent
14. Right to withdraw and withhold information
15. Contact information

17. 1. Children
2. Mentally or emotionally disabled people
3. Severely ill or physically disabled people
4. The terminally ill
5. Institutionalized people
6. Pregnant women
 Children are more vulnerable, have fewer legal
rights, and often do not understand the meaning
of “informed consent”.

18.  Require a group of high school sophomores to sign
a form in which they agree to participate in a
research study
 Asks first graders sensitive questions without
obtaining the consent of their parents to question
them
 Deletes data he collects that do not support his
hypotheses
 Requires university students to fill out a
questionnaire about their sexual practices

19.  Before any research involving human beings can
be conducted at an institution that receives federal
funds, it must be reviewed by an institutional
review board (IRB) at the institution.
 The federal agency that has the major
responsibility for establishing the guidelines for
research studies that involve human subjects is
the Department of Health (DOH) and Human
Services.

20.  Directions: Answer the following questions
 1. My research title is:_____________
 2. The possibilities for harm to participants (if any) are as
follows:_________________
 I would handle these problems as follows:___
 3. The possibilities of problems of confidentiality (if any)
are as follows:______
 I would handle these problems as follows:___
 4. The possibilities of problems of deception (if any) are
as follows:__________
 I would handle these problems as follows:___
 5. If you think your proposed study would fit the
guidelines for exempt status, state why
here:___________________