On a broader perspective, ethics is regarded as the moral guideline that differentiates between what is right and wrong. Ethical scientific research must be conducted in a manner that benefits human beings rather than harm them. It remains one of the most critical aspects for scientists to adhere to the ethical norms during their research (Bhattacherjee, 2012). First, it ensures that they promote the aim of the study and also guarantees that errors are effectively avoided. Since scientific research involves a multidisciplinary approach, it remains crucial for individuals to promote values critical in collaborative work such as mutual respect, accountability, trust, and fairness. In some instances, it is vital to encourage ethics in research as what is regarded as unethical in most circumstances doubles up as illegal. It is therefore essential for scientists to apply several critical principles in ensuring that they conduct ethical research.
Researchers must ensure that all subjects in a study participate on a voluntary basis. As such, they have the right to withdraw at any particular time (Kruk, 2013). Secondly, the principle of non-maleficence should at all times prevail in a bid to protect the subject from harmful procedures and experiences. Thirdly, vulnerable research participants such as children, prisoners, and pregnant women must be protected by signing informed consent. The informed consent serves several functions depending on the subjects including describing the rights of the subjects, autonomy, and risks among others. Privacy rights should at all times prevail in the form of anonymity and confidentiality. Anonymity means that individuals reading the final report of the study cannot associate a given response to a particular person (Ritchie et al., 2013). On the other hand, confidentiality implies that researchers do not release information about a specific subject to the public domain. As such, this builds confidence and ensures that the research happens in good faith.
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Kruk (2013) asserted that researchers have a moral obligation to inform the potential subjects on matters that would help them effectively design if they would eventually participate in the study. Some of the important information that should be conveyed to the prospective participants includes the person conducting the study, the purpose, outcomes, and any associated benefits. In ethics, this is referred to as disclosure. When conducting both qualitative and quantitative research designs, it remains significant for the scientists to put keen interest on analysis and reporting. Adverse or unexpected outcomes should at all times be disclosed even if they can paint the study in a shadow of a doubt. Resnik (2012) noted that scientists must remain keen to practice openness by sharing the data, outcomes, resources, tools, and resources. They should accept criticism and show openness to new ideas. During research, respect for intellectual property is paramount. Such things as copyrights, patents, and other forms of intellectual property should be used as prescribed by the law.
Institutional Review Board
First, it should be noted that research studies involving human subjects are overseen by the federal law of the United States. In certain instances, a hospital or a university can want to lobby for funds from the federal government to further research so long as it complies with the outlined laws. Such a process is overseen by a committee of experts called the Institutional Review Board (IRB). The IRB "is an administrative body established to protect the rights and welfare of human research subjects recruited to participate in research activities conducted under the auspices of the institution with which it is affiliated" (Klitzman, 2012 pp. 975). The primary role of the IRB is to ensure that all ethical principles regarding human research are considered including harmlessness, participation, confidentiality, and anonymity among others. Most importantly, it provides that all human research have minimal risks associated with them. It also possesses the power to monitor, approve, disapprove, and modify research activities within its jurisdiction as stipulated by the federal government and the associated institution (Klitzman, 2013).
For instance, at the Trident University, the role of the IRB is to oversee procedures for realizing the commitment of the college to protect the welfare of human subjects utilized in research studies as stated by the applicable regulations. At Trident, IRB follows a particular multi-stepped process in a bid to ensure that it achieves its mandate. The candidates are required to complete an application and proceed to submit relevant documents as stated in the application. Once they have made their application, they undergo an IRB training conducted on the online platform. Thirdly, they are required to acquire approval from the director regarding the dissertation proposal. Candidates will then complete a pre-IRB review. After getting permission from the study site, students will submit their IRB application and later request for revisions. Lastly, they will the results of the IRB review process. Also important to note is that a host of components are required to complete the IRB application at Trident.
An approved research methodology or protocol is a necessity to complete an IRB application. The candidates must possess a host of data instruments including questionnaires and surveys. They must also have in hand the permission to access data and administer the study. For the studies that require data collection, the candidates must have several components including the criteria for participant selection, risks, and benefits of the research, and materials demonstrating the voluntary nature of the study and a provision for withdrawal. Candidates must have the full protocol and a document that acts as the informed consent (Klitzman, 2012). Klitzman (2013) asserted that recruitment materials such as advertisement and the investigator's brochure are all necessary components required during the IRB application at Trident. In certain instances, additional materials could be needed for the IRB depending on the nature of the research. A Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) waiver for the studies that involve protected health information.
Professional Code of Ethics in Business
In business, a code of ethics includes policies and values that a company requires its employees to follow. A business can have ethical obligations to its employees, shareholders, stakeholders, customers, and the community at large. It is in this regard that businesses continually create policies in a bid to meet its ethical demands. In meeting the ethical obligations of the society, businesses are required to demonstrate strong ethical provisions in their corporate social responsibility (CSR). CSR "is a self-regulating business model that helps a company be socially accountable to itself, its stakeholders, and the public" (Brammer, Jackson, & Matten, 2012 pp. 7). Therefore, companies have an opportunity to demonstrate consciousness on their impact on the society including the social, economic, and environmental aspects. Businesses can leverage their CSR in several ways to ensure that they meet their ethical obligation to society. The first area of CSR is based on environmental efforts. Businesses must at all times remain cognizant of the importance of the environment in which they operate. Large corporations and companies have a potential to destroy the environment depending on the type of energy they use or their expansion endeavors. It, therefore, remains imperative for a business to show sensitivity to the environmental needs and therefore employ sustainable means of production.
In meeting their ethical responsibilities to the society, businesses can also engage in various philanthropic activities. In the spirit of giving back to society, companies can show social responsibility by donating products, money, and services that serve various social aspects. Large corporations, for instance, have multiple resources that could effectively benefit local community programs including charities. CSR also includes different ethical labor practices that businesses are required to employ. Companies are required to treat their employees ethically and fairly continually. They must also ensure that they employ workers of the right age and avoid engaging in illicit behavior such as human trafficking. Such a provision is helpful especially when a business operates at an international platform where the laws used are different from their local ones. Most importantly, a business must create enabling working environments that improve well-being and eliminates any imminent harm. Therefore, CSR has developed into a significant competitive advantage with more companies using it to attract more stakeholders and shareholders.
Promoting CSR in the context of a business is regarded as a win-win situation. The community benefits while the companies also leverages its position by capitalizing on its reputation as a socially responsible entity. The government has also created laws that ensure that businesses act responsibly not their shareholders especially the customers. For instance, fair trade laws are an example of a CSR driven law aimed at protecting customers (Ni & Van Wart, 2015). The fair trade laws prevent monopolies resulting from mergers in a bid to ensure that the market remains competitive and the prices favorable for the consumers. Some of the notable companies that have made large strides in enhancing their CSR include Coca-Cola, Apple, and Walmart among others. The Green campaign advocated by businesses aims at protecting the environment ensuring that companies reduce carbon emissions, utilize biodegradable materials, and also uses alternative energy sources that have a minimal effect on the environment (Ni & Van Wart, 2015). In conclusion, CSR remains one of the most important ethical principles that businesses endeavor to promote.
References
Bhattacherjee, A. (2012). Social science research: Principles, methods, and practices. Textbook Collection Chapter 16 https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/oa_textbooks/3/
Brammer, S., Jackson, G., & Matten, D. (2012). Corporate social responsibility and institutional theory: New perspectives on private governance. Socio-economic Review, 10(1), 3-28.
Klitzman, R. (2012). Institutional review board community members: who are they, what do they do, and whom do they represent? Academic medicine: Journal of the Association of American Medical Colleges, 87(7), 975.
Klitzman, R. (2013). How good does the science have to be in proposals submitted to institutional review boards? An interview study of institutional review board personnel. Clinical Trials, 10(5), 761-766.
Kruk, J. (2013). Good scientific practice and ethical principles in scientific research and higher education. Central European Journal of Sport Sciences and Medicine, 1(1), 25-29.
Ni, A., & Van Wart, M. (2015). Corporate Social Responsibility: Doing Well and Doing Good. In Building Business-Government Relations (pp. 175-196). Routledge.
Resnik, D. B. (2012). Ethical virtues in scientific research. Accountability in Research, 19(6), 329-343.
Ritchie, J., Lewis, J., Nicholls, C. M., & Ormston, R. (Eds.). (2013). Qualitative research practice: A guide for social science students and researchers. Sage.
