KNOWLEDGE FOR THE BENEFIT OF HUMANITYKNOWLEDGE FOR THE BENEFIT OF HUMANITY

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY (HFS4343)

ETHICAL ISSUES

Dr. Dr. MohdMohd RazifRazif ShahrilShahril

School of Nutrition & Dietetics School of Nutrition & Dietetics

Faculty of Health SciencesFaculty of Health Sciences

UniversitiUniversiti Sultan Sultan ZainalZainal AbidinAbidin

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S C H O O L O F N U T R I T I O N A N D D I E T E T I C S • U N I V E R S I T I S U L T A N Z A I N A L A B I D I N

Topic Learning Outcomes At the end of this lecture, students should be able to;

• define the concept of ethics

• identify stakeholders in research

• explain ethical issues to consider concerning research

participants

• explain ethical issues to consider relating to the

researcher

• explain issues to consider regarding the sponsoring

organization

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S C H O O L O F N U T R I T I O N A N D D I E T E T I C S • U N I V E R S I T I S U L T A N Z A I N A L A B I D I N

The concept of ethics

• Ethical means in accordance with

principles of conduct that are

considered correct, especially those of

a given profession or group

– What are these principles of conduct?

– Who determines them?

– In whose judgement must they be

considered correct?

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S C H O O L O F N U T R I T I O N A N D D I E T E T I C S • U N I V E R S I T I S U L T A N Z A I N A L A B I D I N

What are the principles of conduct?

• Any dilemma stemming from a moral quandary is a

basis of ethical conduct

• Certain behaviours considered unethical;

– Causing harm to individuals

– Breaching confidentiality

– Using information inappropriately

– Introducing bias

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S C H O O L O F N U T R I T I O N A N D D I E T E T I C S • U N I V E R S I T I S U L T A N Z A I N A L A B I D I N

Whose judgment?

• Overall body of professionals or organization that

collectively develops a professional code of conducts ad

forms a judgement as to whether or not it is being

followed

• E.g.;

– Medical Research and Ethics Committee (MREC), Ministry of

Health Malaysia

– UniSZA Human Research and Ethics Committee (UHREC)

– Jawatankuasa Etika dan Penyelidikan Manusia (JePEM)

Universisiti Sains Malaysia

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S C H O O L O F N U T R I T I O N A N D D I E T E T I C S • U N I V E R S I T I S U L T A N Z A I N A L A B I D I N

Stakeholders in research

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The The funding funding

bodybody

The researcherThe researcher

The research The research participantsparticipants

S C H O O L O F N U T R I T I O N A N D D I E T E T I C S • U N I V E R S I T I S U L T A N Z A I N A L A B I D I N

Stakeholders in research

• The research participants

– All those with direct and indirect involvement in a research study

– Those who are likely to be affected by the findings of a study

– Service providers, service managers and planners

– Communities providing information to help a researcher to gain

understanding of a phenomenon etc.

• The researcher

– Anyone who collects information for the specific purpose of

understanding, consolidation, enhancement and development of

professional knowledge

• The funding body

– Responsible for financing a research activity 7

S C H O O L O F N U T R I T I O N A N D D I E T E T I C S • U N I V E R S I T I S U L T A N Z A I N A L A B I D I N

Ethical issues concerning research

participants

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Collecting Collecting informationinformation

Seeking Seeking consentconsent

Providing Providing incentivesincentives

Seeking Seeking sensitive sensitive

informationinformation

Possibility of Possibility of harmharm

Maintaining Maintaining confidentialityconfidentiality

S C H O O L O F N U T R I T I O N A N D D I E T E T I C S • U N I V E R S I T I S U L T A N Z A I N A L A B I D I N

Ethical issues relating to researcher

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Avoiding biasAvoiding bias Provision or Provision or

deprivation of deprivation of a treatmenta treatment

Inappropriate Inappropriate research research

methodologymethodology

Incorrect Incorrect reportingreporting

Inappropriate Inappropriate use of the use of the

informationinformation

S C H O O L O F N U T R I T I O N A N D D I E T E T I C S • U N I V E R S I T I S U L T A N Z A I N A L A B I D I N

Ethical issues regarding sponsoring

organization

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Restriction Restriction imposed by the imposed by the

sponsoring sponsoring organisationorganisation

The misuse of The misuse of informationinformation

Thank YouThank You

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