Ethics in Quantitative Research
Methods
Mala Ramanathan
AMCHSS, SCTIMST
Short Term Training Program ‘Ethics in Social Science Research Related to Health’
Potential for Ethical Problems
in Quantitative Research
Related to the stage of research
Formulating the research questions
Designing the study: Types of studies and ethics Collecting data: data collection processes
Analysis Reporting
Formulating the Research
Questions
Influenced by:
The ideological position of the researcher
The political economic context in which the
research is taken up
The study on the declining sex ratio in
India – the type of research questions
Would be different if you believe:
that there is a need to strengthen state regulation
of the PNDT Act
that there is too much interference into family
size decision making and these are matters that are best left to the citizens of the state to decide
and that women who are unable to have access
Formulating the Research
Questions
This in turn
influences-
The manner in which you review the existing
evidence
The nature of the data collection process that
would be used and the analysis
Data Collection Methods
Quantitative data collection methods
Departures
Quantitative studies – to test hypothesis and
determine causality, measure the extent of
problems,
Nature: method and design determined in
advance(apriori)
Inappropriate/bad science to change mid-way
– therefore unethical
Study designs
Experiments – best for establishing causality
Ethical issues in selecting the control group, to use or not
use the placebo etc,
Observational studies – best suited when
experiments are not possible eg. Cell phone use and seizures
Guidance: Professional Ethics
Guidelines
ASA (American Statistical Association Guidelines/Sociological Guidelines)
AAA (American Anthropological Association)
AMMA(American Medical Anthropological Association)
ISA (International Statistical Association) – Professional Guidelines
Potential problems with data
gathering
Collecting data without appropriate controls
Omitting controls that others have pointed out
Using inappropriate sample sizes
Selecting what to observe
Failing to see events or seeing non-existing ones
Potential problems with data
processing
Editing data
Making up data
Using inappropriate statistical tests
Violating the statistical assumptions
Reporting findings -1
Using other people’s words or data(plagiarism)
Not reporting contradictory findings
Putting your name on work that you did not do
Not reporting others related or contradictory findings
Writing an abstract with no data
Publishing the same evidence many times
Reporting findings - 2
Changing the hypothesis of the paper
Gradually changing from far out possibility
to established fact
Concluding cause and effect when only
correlation is found
Ethics of Reviewing
Obtaining a secondary citation for one’s own publication
Pirating the topic of a paper
Providing reverse criticism on a second review
Quibbling excessively over minor points
Blocking publication for invalid or unscientific reasons
Role of scientific judgment
Young scientists should understand all the subtle ways in which they can delude themselves in the design of
observations and the interpretation of data and statistics. They should understand metrology and should know what tendencies to manipulate information are built into their digital signal processors. They should also get to know the algorithms used in their favourite computers, which may under certain circumstances give strange results. Above all
The role of scientific judgment
Develop healthy skepticism
Acquire technical skills both analytical skills
Learn appropriate design of scientific
experiments
Be conscious of experimenter bias and
limitations of analysis
Mechanisms for continuing review
Data and safety monitoring
is the process for
reviewing accumulated outcome data from
an ongoing study to ensure the continuing
safety of current participants and those yet to
be enrolled, as well as the continuing validity
Data and Safety Monitoring Plan
(DSMP) should be tailored to the
nature, size, and complexity of the
research protocol, the expected
risks of the research, and the type
of subject population being studied
What does the DSMP include?
The type of events that will be monitored
Who will be responsible
The methods of reporting unexpected events in the field
The frequency of assessments
What are the requirements in Social and
Behavioural health research for data safety?
Identify the implications of loss of confidentiality
Include mechanisms for limiting these in the planning stages
Inform the participants of the limits to confidentiality
List potential identifiers that may have to be masked
References:
1. Mann, MD (year not known)
The Ethics of Collecting and Processing Data and Publishing Results of Scientific Research, Department of Physiology and Biophysics University of Nebraska Medical Center
2. National Academy of Sciences, 1995
On being a scientist. Responsible conduct in research (2nd