Ethical Dilemmas Research Articles

The Ethics of Artificial Intelligence and Autonomous Systems: Review

Artificial intelligence (AI) and autonomous systems are rapidly advancing technologies that offer significant benefits but also pose new ethical challenges. This review aims to comprehensively analyze the key ethical issues related to AI and autonomy through an expanded discussion of relevant literature. The development of advanced AI and autonomous systems could enable unprecedented capabilities but also risks that are unprecedented in their nature and scale. Ensuring these technologies are developed and applied in an ethical manner will require addressing issues around safety, transparency, accountability, and the prioritization of human values. Researchers have proposed technical and philosophical approaches to building "friendly" or "beneficial" AI that avoids potential harms. However, many open questions remain about how to properly specify and validate ethical constraints for systems that may surpass human levels of intelligence. Autonomous systems like self-driving vehicles also introduce new ethical dilemmas around responsibility and decision- making in safety-critical situations. Standards are needed to help guide the design of autonomous functions to be transparent, predictable, and respectful of human dignity and diversity. Governments and international organizations have begun outlining policy recommendations for developing AI that is trustworthy and compatible with human rights, privacy, and democratic values.

Role-playing the future: a simulation-based exploration of AI in social work

As Artificial Intelligence (AI) continues to permeate various sectors, its integration into social work practice, particularly in identifying at-risk families, demands a nuanced understanding and ethical engagement from future social workers. This paper presents an account of a simulation-based learning exercise conducted with Masters in Social Work [MSW] students at an Irish university. Through role-playing as different stakeholders, students engaged with a fictional scenario that involved the deployment of an AI algorithm in Ireland for identifying at-risk families. The exercise illuminated diverse perspectives on the implications of AI in social work, highlighting key ethical dilemmas, regulatory challenges and the need for comprehensive education on AI technologies. The findings support the effectiveness of simulation-based learning as an effective way to prepare social work students for the ethical, practical, and policy complexities of integrating AI into their future practice.

Проблемы формирования общечеловеческих ценностей в профессиональном самосознании обучающихся ведомственных вузов системы МВД России

The formation of values in the professional self-awareness of students is a key aspect of the educational process in the modern world characterized by rapid social and technological changes. In the professional context, values play the role of a reference point guiding the behavior of a specialist in various situations, including ethical dilemmas and professional challenges. They not only determine the motivation and behavior of future police officers, but also influence the attitude of cadets to professional activities. This study analyzes the problems of formation of universal human values in professional self-awareness of students of departmental universities of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, based on the test of Milton Rokeach, an analysis of value orientations among graduates of the Nizhny Novgorod Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia is carried out. The author emphasizes the importance of forming value orientations as the basis of a professional “self-concept” and a key element in the structure of professional self-awareness of future police officers.

Socio-cultural adaptation of Mental Health First Aid to insular religious communities: the case of ultra-Orthodox society in Israel

ABSTRACT Objective The introduction of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) in Israel has required a dynamic adaptation of the curriculum to the local social, cultural and religious context. The adaptation to the Jewish ultra-Orthodox community has been particularly rigorous and challenging. This article aims to analyse this process, its principles and steps, as well as the challenges and dilemmas it entails. Method The article employs a qualitative case study design, specifically, the instrumental case study. The adaptation procedure includes five steps: engaging local experts, organising focus groups, collaboration with communities, pilot testing in diverse communities, and iterative feedback loops. The article draws primarily on the perspectives of 45 community members, rabbis and health professionals who participated in four focus groups. Results The adaptation in ultra-Orthodox society addressed stigmatisation, silencing and concealment of mental health issues; gender segregation; educational gaps; and cultural misunderstandings of healthcare approaches. We demonstrate the need to modify the language, scenarios and examples in the curriculum, and engage with religious leaders and educational institutions. This process raises professional and ethical dilemmas, such as how MHFA should approach topics that remain unspoken in ultra-Orthodox communities. Discussion This case demonstrates that cultural adaptation is vital but may be insufficient. Attention should also be paid to social and structural forces, such as social hierarchies and systemic discrimination. A structurally competent approach should be adopted. This is the first case of accommodating MHFA for an insular religious group. It can contribute to adapting MHFA to other insular, encompassing, high-tension religious communities worldwide.

The Socio-economic Transformation in Makassar Tribe Gift-giving Tradition: Reconstructing Social Welfare Strategy

The gift-giving tradition in Jeneponto, the land of the Makassar Tribe, has undergone significant transformation over time, reflecting changes in socio-economic ethics within societies. This study explores the evolution of this tradition and its profound impact on contemporary socio-economic values. It examines how gift-giving has transitioned from a simple act of goodwill and cultural exchange to a complex phenomenon influenced by consumerism, status, and economic disparities. Drawing from ethnographic research analysis, this research delves into the cultural and social significance of gift-giving in various contexts. It sheds light on how traditional values, such as reciprocity and generosity, have been reshaped by commercialization and global consumer culture. Furthermore, it investigates the consequences of these changes on individuals and communities. The study also discusses the ethical dilemmas arising from the commodification of gift-giving, including issues of authenticity, social inequality, and environmental sustainability. It highlights the need for a more conscious and responsible approach to gift-giving in the current situation.

Assessing and Enhancing Core Competencies in Vocational Education: A Case Study of Senior Students at Guangxi Police College, China

This study evaluates the core competencies of senior students at Guangxi Police College within the framework of higher vocational education and provides guidelines for enhancing these skills. A Likert 5-Point Scale questionnaire based on Lin Chongde’s 2017 framework assessed these competencies among 155 students. A statistical study of the data, concentrating on mean values and standard deviations, indicated variable levels of competence across six dimensions: moral awareness, social responsibility, cultural comprehension, critical thinking, language competency, and aesthetic appreciation. They demonstrated high levels of ethical awareness, social responsibility, cultural understanding, critical thinking, and aesthetic appreciation, while language abilities were graded as medium, indicating a need for targeted improvement. Recommendations include incorporating interactive language activities and industry-specific training, targeting critical thinking through case studies and debate clubs, broadening cultural understanding through international exposure, cultivating aesthetic appreciation through art classes, and increasing social responsibility through community service and internships. Integrating ethics education across all disciplines and practical ethical dilemma workshops were suggested to promote moral awareness. This study presents a complete examination of basic abilities in a vocational environment and offers actionable suggestions for educational improvement. This paper addresses the critical gap in creating vocational training programs for police officers. It focuses on police students' vocational education and provides a detailed assessment of fundamental abilities adapted for law enforcement training. The study findings give an insightful overview of the viable future revisions in vocational programs that match the educational requirements and practical demands of the police profession.

The hidden boycott: experiences of Israeli academics during the Israel-Hamas war

ABSTRACT This article explores the boycott and discrimination faced by Israeli academics from the international academic community during the 2023–24 Israel-Hamas war. Through semi-structured interviews with 30 participants from diverse disciplines and institutions, five key themes emerged: 1) Overt and covert discrimination; 2) challenges in international collaborations; 3) ethical and professional dilemmas; 4) long-term personal and career implications; and 5) implications for academic discourse and collaborations. The findings underscore this hidden boycott’s significant personal and professional impact on Israeli researchers, highlighting an urgent need to support academic freedom and promote inclusivity amid conflicts. By shedding light on Israeli academics’ personal narratives and the subtle forms of discrimination encountered, this study provides insight into the unique challenges faced by Israeli researchers during this conflict. It serves as a call for collective action to safeguard academic freedom and foster an inclusive, collaborative environment upholding the core values of academia and the pursuit of knowledge in the face of targeted boycotts.

Analysis of Tax Impact on Employee Retention in the Hospitality Industry

This qualitative research investigates the intricate relationship between taxation policies and employee retention within the hospitality industry. Employing a systematic literature review, the study examines the impact of tax incentives and management strategies on employee satisfaction and organizational practices. Through rigorous data collection and thematic analysis, key findings emerge, revealing the nuanced dynamics at play. The research underscores the significance of tax incentives in fostering employee loyalty and commitment, albeit contingent upon organizational culture, industry-specific factors, and perceived fairness. Additionally, it highlights the challenges posed by compliance costs and the ethical dilemmas associated with aggressive tax planning. The study contributes to a deeper understanding of the complex interplay between taxation policies, organizational responses, and employee outcomes, offering insights for both academia and industry practitioners.

Transcending Otherness: Exploring Symbolism, Fluid Rejection, and Moral Ambiguity in Anosh Irani's The Parcel

The transgender community's historical roots, as affirmed by scholars like Mildred L. Brown and Chloe Ann Rounsley in "True Selves," persist throughout history. Despite global recognition, transgenders face enduring challenges in societal acceptance. Indian hijras, emblematic of this struggle, endure oppressive prejudice, lacking essentials and oppressed by systemic bias. Literary representations of transgender experiences are limited, but works like Anosh Irani's The Parcel provide insightful portrayals. The research scrutinizes Irani's work, focusing on its symbolism and the protagonist's turbulent journey amidst rejection, marginalisation and ethical dilemmas. Through Irani's narrative, profound insights emerge into the resilient spirit of transgender individuals confronting societal adversity. Despite strides, true equality remains elusive for the community. This article analyses and summarizes the symbolism in The Parcel by analysing static symbols such as characters, objects, occurrences , as well as dynamic symbol such as dialogue, behaviour, and thoughts, in order to further elaborate the role of symbolism in The Parcel in promoting the context of the text. This study aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of their struggles, shedding light on the unyielding resilience exhibited by transgender individuals across societal challenges.

Ethical Dilemmas in Contemporary Igbo Christian Marriages: Navigating Modernity and Cultural Identities

Ethical Dilemmas in Contemporary Igbo Christian Marriages: Navigating Modernity and Cultural Identities

Ethical dilemmas of translanguaging pedagogy in L2 and basic literacy education for adults: social justice and ethics of care

ABSTRACT This paper explores the ethical challenges and possibilities of conducting responsible and transformative translanguaging pedagogy in adult education for second language learners with limited previous experience of schooling. We identify and explore ethical dilemmas in teachers’ interaction and multilingual teaching practices. The data was produced in a linguistic ethnography and action research project. It consists of classroom observations and interviews with teachers who teach in the programme Swedish for Immigrants (SFI). The teachers express and embody ambivalence in relation to the students’ use of their whole linguistic repertoires and the students are not always treated as competent to make informed decisions about their own use of linguistic repertoires. This touches on issues of citizenship and democracy and here the framework ethics of care offers context-specific ways of understanding and responding to the ethical challenges of multilingual teaching.

Performance, interpersonal relationships and professional satisfaction: determinants to support pharmaceutical reengineering

Professionalism represents the ethical contract that binds professionals and society. Its technical aspects, such as the professional practice model, form the foundation for attitudinal and behavioral characteristics, including the fiduciary relationship between pharmacists and patients. Despite significant interest in the topic, contextualizing professionalism proves to be a challenging endeavor, relying on collaboration among formal leaders, academics, and practitioners in the field. Consequently, defining, understanding, teaching, and evaluating pharmaceutical professionalism contribute to shape societal perceptions and the understanding of pharmacists and students, who may occasionally struggle to grasp the underlying rationale behind professional practices. Moreover, contextualizing professionalism entails addressing various challenges, such as fostering support for professionalism and its adaptation, which encompasses pharmacists' performance across diverse clinical services, their interpersonal interactions with patients, families, communities, and fellow healthcare professionals, as well as personal job satisfaction amidst obstacles as job insecurity, ethical dilemmas, and compromised autonomy.

Job Satisfaction and Teaching Effectiveness in Emergency Remote Teaching among Higher Education Faculty

In the rapidly evolving landscape of 21st century education, teacher preparation programs play a significant role in shaping the educators of tomorrow. This qualitative study aims to reveal both the opportunities and limitations of incorporating action research into experiential learning courses within teacher education programs. The researcher conducted a comprehensive thematic analysis to examine and categorize the participants' responses. Through in-depth interviews with 30 senior education students at Batangas State University, The National Engineering University, JPLPC Malvar, Batangas, Philippines, during the academic year 2021-2022, it was revealed that the opportunities arising from action research include enhanced teaching skills and pedagogy, problem-solving and reflective practice, collaborative learning and peer interaction, as well as professional growth and ethical awareness. Moreover, participants also encounter limitations, such as time constraints, resource accessibility, and ethical dilemmas. To address these challenges and capitalize on the opportunities, the study recommends strategies for improved time management, equitable resource access, and ethical training and support within teacher education programs. The study also suggests future research avenues, including longitudinal studies and comparative analyses, to further enhance action research's role in shaping the educators of the future.

Assessing the Impact of Minimum Learning Mastery Standard on the Effectiveness of Follow-Up Programs in Madrasa

This study aims to analyse the assessment and follow-up processes of Arab learning at Madrasah Aliyah using qualitative methods with a phenomenological approach. It involved 24 Arabic language teachers from Madrasah Aliyah in South Kalimantan. The findings indicated that Minimum Learning Mastery Standards (MLMS) were not adjusted to accommodate student characteristics, subject competencies, and educational unit conditions. Consequently, learning assessments became less credible, often serving merely to fulfil MLMS requirements. Both enrichment and remedial follow-up were perceived as formalities, lacking a basis in the analysis of student assessments, which undermined students' motivation to learn. Teachers encountered ethical dilemmas in assessment and decision-making processes, exacerbated by external pressures for students to meet MLMS benchmarks. The study emphasizes the importance of reducing external pressures in determining MLMS, enhancing teacher competence in adopting new assessment methods, and improving evaluation systems. These improvements are crucial for developing evidence-based structured enrichment and remedial programs

Hospital management and challenges during COVID-19 outbreaks: lessons from a level 1 hospital in the southeast of Iran-case study

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has presented unparalleled challenges to hospitals globally, particularly those in resource-limited settings. This case study elucidates the experiences and lessons from managing a 40-bed public hospital in Rask, Iran, during the pandemic.MethodsData were gathered through focus group discussions with the management team and key informants, supplemented by document analysis. Thematic analysis was employed to discern key themes and subthemes related to the challenges encountered and solutions implemented by the hospital.ResultsThe study underscores the necessity of a dynamic management team, effective external stakeholder communication, staff involvement in decision-making, and establishing connections with pre-hospital care units. It also emphasizes the need for adaptable protocols, comprehensive staff training, and infrastructure enhancements. Despite these strategies, the hospital grappled with unresolved issues such as inadequate disaster planning, ethical dilemmas, and poor inter-hospital coordination.ConclusionThis case study offers insights into managing a small hospital in a resource-limited setting during a health crisis, highlighting the importance of effective leadership, staff support, infrastructural flexibility, and community engagement. The lessons gleaned can guide the development of context-specific strategies to bolster the resilience and preparedness of similar hospitals. Further research is warranted to assess the long-term impacts of the pandemic on these hospitals and to explore the perspectives of frontline staff, patients, and families for a more comprehensive understanding of effective hospital management during health disasters.

Navigating the Nexus of Bioethics and Geopolitics: Implications for Global Health Security and Scientific Collaboration.

Bioethics plays a pivotal role in guiding ethical decision-making within the realm of medical research and healthcare. However, the influence of geopolitics on bioethical considerations, particularly regarding bioweapons research, remains an underexplored area. This study delves into the uncharted territory of how international political interests can intersect with bioethical principles, potentially shaping collaborative efforts and global health policies related to bioweapons research. Through a hypothetical scenario involving a hypothetical pathogen, a collaborative effort between unspecified countries, we examine the implications of such cooperation on global health governance, with a specific focus on bioweapons research. Ethical dilemmas surrounding responsible research, potential risks and benefits, equitable distribution of findings, and biosafety measures are explored. This analysis underscores the importance of transparent and responsible practices in bioweapons research amidst geopolitical tensions. By striking a balance between national interests and international solidarity, we advocate for robust bioethical frameworks to navigate such collaborations for the collective well-being of humanity and to mitigate potential risks associated with bioweapons research.

Beyond Vicarious Storytelling: How Level Telling Fields Could Help Create a Fair Narrative on Migration

Life stories play a crucial role in migration discourses: they serve as testimony in journalistic work, form the core of ambassadorial storytelling by non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and inspire collaborative projects initiated by writers seeking to express their solidarity. However, this article argues, drawing on migrants’ experiences for such purposes also creates an ethical dilemma: speaking about–or even for–rather than with migrants assigns them a passive role and tends to recycle existing narrative patterns and templates. Starting with a generic distinction between what we call stories of migration (various forms of self-expression granting migrants full authority and control over their narrative) and narratives on migration (external perspectives, e.g., academic, economic, political, and legal approaches, detached from lived experience), we explore the extensive middle ground of hybrid forms between these two extremes–i.e., different kinds of vicarious storytelling–before addressing their ethical implications. We further discuss how the metaphor of the level playing field, a key concept in economics, can be used in transdisciplinary research projects to establish level telling fields (LTFs), i.e., communicative spaces characterized by a fair dialogue on an equal footing for all participants.

Breaking new ground: Using and evaluating collaborative autoethnography to enhance teacher adaptability in higher education

The combined impacts of dramatic social, industrial, environmental, and technological changes on higher education demand continuous adaptation and reinvention of teaching approaches. We evaluate collaborative autoethnography as a methodology that permits educators to share and interrogate their practices, activating critical reflection, experimentation, and just-in-time teaching innovation, while also cultivating a community of learning. As four education-focused academics teaching into a senior undergraduate experiential learning program, we experimented with collaborative autoethnography to cooperatively assess and develop our teaching practice during the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our experiences suggest collaborative autoethnography's strong potential to amplify teachers’ critical reflection and formally support professional development, including through the formation of productive collegial networks. However, we also encountered methodological challenges. These include ethical dilemmas with collaborative autoethnography research conducted in emergency contexts, as well as concerns over the integrity of the reflection process, both in terms of reaching consensus in the interpretation of different narratives and the sufficiency of voices included and excluded in authorship. Ultimately, the strengths and challenges of collaborative autoethnography represent a critical opportunity for teachers in higher education to contribute to further developing this tool not only as a research methodology, but also as a professional development process.

Ethical challenges in healthcare innovation: A leadership perspective.

Innovation is essential for advancing and sustaining healthcare systems, particularly in hospitals. While innovation offers solutions to challenges such as chronic disease management, access to care, and patient safety, it also introduces significant ethical dilemmas for health leaders. This column explores the broad ethical issues associated with healthcare innovation, focusing on resource allocation, support for diverse healthcare professions, equitable access to care, and the emphasis on technology-based innovations. It highlights the complexities of funding innovation through government, private sector, universities, donors, and the unpaid work of healthcare providers. The column also addresses the disparities in innovation support across different professions and the potential for innovation to exacerbate healthcare inequities. Potential solutions are proposed, including the establishment of interdisciplinary councils, dedicated innovation funds, and public-private partnerships. By prioritizing ethical leadership and balanced innovation strategies, health leaders can ensure that advancements benefit all stakeholders, fostering a more equitable and sustainable healthcare system in Canada.

Doing urban research on ‘hard-to-reach’ populations during the COVID-19 pandemic: advantages and ethical dilemmas using digital ethnography as a new alternative

This paper presents insights on conducting urban research amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing the adoption of digital ethnography as an innovative and flexible approach. Drawing from an expanding body of literature on fieldwork among 'hard-to-reach' populations during crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, we share our experiences from a study on the socio-economic impacts of mandatory lockdowns on poor urban residents in Harare, Zimbabwe. Our research highlighted several methodological benefits of digital ethnography, including its non-intrusive and non-intimidating nature, cost and time efficiency, ability to increase participant diversity, assurance of respondent safety, research flexibility, and the generation of impactful data. Unlike traditional immersive ethnography, digital ethnography proved adept at navigating the complexities of the 'global', 'local', and 'trans-local' dimensions of contemporary urban research subjects. However, this approach also presents several ethical challenges. These challenges include obtaining informed consent, ensuring confidentiality and anonymity, participants' potential misunderstanding of the research context, the risk of exacerbating stress during crises, and respecting privacy in digital spaces. Urban researchers must carefully consider these ethical issues before undertaking their studies. In conclusion, virtual environments have become integral to modern life and represent essential avenues for urban researchers, particularly during periods of limited physical interaction and when studying populations that are difficult to reach in person but more accessible online. Further, the adoption of digital ethnography, extends beyond the necessity imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. It reflects an ongoing evolution in ethnographic practices, adapting to the realities of a digitally connected world. We suggest that urban researchers should think of digital ethnographic ethics from the point of view of reciprocal and mutual collaboration with participants. With this thinking, urban research subjects become co-participants and co-researchers rather than subjects of exploitation in the expanding and complex digital space.