Nnodim Johnkennedy, Ikem Amarachi Promise, Nwaokoro Joakin Chidozie,
Abstract
Research ethics involves application of fundamental ethical concepts to research activities, such as the planning and carrying out of research, respect for society and other people, the use of resources and research outputs, scientific misconduct and the regulation of research. It is a crucial component of research that is affected by factors like public trust in scientists, data protection, anonymity, and confidentiality, as well as the capacity to establish and maintain relationships of trust with respondents. It encompasses not only the rules spelled out in a code of ethics, but also the researcher's philosophical and value viewpoint. The research ethics and its principle are x-rayed.
Introduction
The rules of behavior for scientific researchers are known as research ethics [1]. It is crucial to follow ethical guidelines in order to safeguard the welfare, rights, and dignity of study participants. It offers recommendations for conducting research ethically. In order to achieve a high ethical standard, it also trains and supervises scientists [2].
There are several reasons why research ethics are crucial. They support the objectives of research, such as knowledge expansion. They foster the principles of justice and respect that are necessary for teamwork [3]. Because scientific research depends on cooperation between researchers and groups, this is crucial. It aids in navigating the liminal space between ethically right and wrong. They provide the structure that helps make a decision one can be proud of. Without ethics, human behavior would be more akin to that of animals in the wild [4,5].
Research is therefore not only a valuable tool for adding to essential knowledge, but it is also the most trustworthy way to begin comprehending the complexities of various issues, to uphold integrity, refute falsehoods, and uphold significant truths, as well as to serve as the foundation for analyzing complex sets of data [6]. Without research, improvements that have helped some people and saved others' lives could not have been possible. Universities can provide students a more comprehensive educational experience by incorporating research into their programs, allowing them to investigate the outcomes of using novel mental processes through investigation and experimentation [7].As a "global center of excellence for intellectual creativity," the research aims to anticipate problems in the future by pursuing the truth. It also aims to address social needs now and to contribute to the development of scientific technologies in order to realize a healthy and prosperous society [8].
When conducting any type of research, a number of ethical norms should be kept in mind. These ethical principles emphasize the need to (a) do good (also known as beneficence) and (b) do no harm as its central tenets (known as non-malfeasance). According to these ethical guidelines, in order to conduct research, you must (a) obtain informed consent from potential participants, (b) reduce the risk of harm to participants, (c) protect their anonymity and confidentiality, (d) refrain from using deceptive practices, and (e) grant participants the option to leave the study at any time [10].
In general, research should not only seek to benefit others (i.e., be beneficent), but also to prevent any harm from occurring (i.e., non-malfeasance). These are the fundamental rules of research ethics, even though they can differ between nations. This is crucial for both practical and ethical reasons, as failing to follow these fundamental guidelines could result in the research being criticized, potentially resulting in a worse grade, and/or being rejected by the supervisor or Ethics Committee, which would waste time and money [11].
Conclusion
Research Ethics are crucial and helpful, and require a great deal of interpretation. Therefore, it is crucial that researchers learn how to decipher, evaluate, and apply different research laws as well as how to decide what to do and how to behave morally under different circumstances.
