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(1)

Ethics in Quantitative Research

Methods

Mala Ramanathan

AMCHSS, SCTIMST

Short Term Training Program ‘Ethics in Social Science Research Related to Health’

(2)

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

(3)

Formulating the Research

Questions

Influenced by:

 The ideological position of the researcher

 The political economic context in which the

research is taken up

(4)

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

(5)

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

(6)

Data Collection Methods

Quantitative data collection methods

(7)
(8)

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

(9)

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

(10)

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

(11)
(12)

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

(13)

Potential problems with data

processing

Editing data

Making up data

Using inappropriate statistical tests

Violating the statistical assumptions

(14)

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

(15)

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

(16)

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

(17)

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

(18)

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

(19)

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

(20)

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

(21)

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

(22)

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

(23)

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

References

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