Читать книгу 100 Questions (and Answers) About Research Ethics - Emily E. Anderson - Страница 16

When ethical standards are ignored, the potential consequences to participants and their communities, researchers, institutions, and the scientific record are myriad. Not complying with research regulations may increase the potential for participants to be harmed—physically, socially, or psychologically (see much more on potential harms in Part 2). For example, if guidelines for protecting the confidentiality of sensitive research data are not followed, there is a greater chance of a data breach, which could result in potential social, economic, or legal harms.

Serious consequences to researchers, a research study, or an institution may follow from noncompliance, regardless of whether harm to participants actually results. In cases of noncompliance, the institutional review board (IRB; the oversight body responsible for ensuring that research with human participants is conducted safely and ethically) may stop a research study. The IRB may also require that previously collected data be destroyed and not used in analysis and publication. Depending on the study, this may mean that certain data must be collected again, resulting in a loss of both time and significant use of resources. It may also mean that the research is not completed.

Depending on the severity of noncompliance, investigators who violate research rules may lose their jobs—or in the case of students, their standing in an academic program. An individual found guilty of not following federal research regulations may lose the privilege of applying for future federal research funding, and may even be fined or have to pay back grant funds. In some rare cases, researchers have served time in prison for making up their data or have been named as defendants in civil lawsuits brought by former research participants. Media outlets often cover cases involving alleged abuse of research participants.

Media reports of researchers breaking rules can result in the loss of public trust. This may in turn lead to decreased public funding to support research. Additionally, if the public loses trust in researchers, they may be unwilling to participate in research, making it difficult for researchers to recruit sufficient numbers of participants needed to answer important research questions and improve science and society.

More questions? See #7, #9, and, #96.