Research Ethics: A Philosophical Guide to the Responsible Conduct of Research

Abstract

The author indicated that this book is to help deal with what he perceives as the piecemeal process for research training that gives rise to misconduct in research. There is a brief introduction that delves into the reason that this book was written. The author's goal for the book was to welcome researchers and to help put some logical structure to what a researcher needs to know and why. This book introduces the theories and concepts of research for newcomers and is a guide for experienced researchers. The book is divided into four parts. Part A covers protecting personal interest, which delves into the world of data manipulations, work with research results, and plagiarism. Part B discusses “promoting interest,” the need to be aware of yourself as a researcher: knowing your behavior and interests, your professional code, and times when you should or should not deviate from it. This section also covers authorship and the issues and concerns of writing and publishing. A few chapters look at the use of statistics and how to protect the manuscript in its various stages. Part C takes the reader into the world and concerns of “the stranger,” who is usually the subject in a research endeavor. The usual topics of informed consent, the process of and need for this consent, and the role of the institutional review board (IRB) as protection for the research and the subject are explained. The roles of mentorship, ownership of data from the research, and conflicts that arise from research are reviewed. Part D is about honor to all the interests of research. To an author, this means treating others humanely, being respectful to the environment, and cultivating responsibility (that of the researcher and the university). Each chapter gives examples and/or brief articles to help articulate the points being presented. These examples are thought provoking and lead smoothly into each topic. This book comes off as intended more for academic researchers than for those practicing in the clinical environment. There are sections that would be of value in my involvement with hospital research committees for discussions and clarification of process and points in the research committee.