Discussion: Ethical Dilemmas in Research Assignment Instructions
Overview
Instructions: Thread
- Read the current APA Code of Conduct (2017). (Required sections: Preamble, General Principles, Section 3.10, and all of Section 8: Research and Publication).
- Read the following ethical dilemmas and select the one most relevant to your personal and/or professional interests to complete this Discussion: Ethical Dilemmas in Research Assignment. Note: the following scenarios were modified from a publication written by Hammersley and Traianou (2012) for the British Educational Research Association.
- As a graduate student researcher, you want to investigate racist hiring practices. However, you are concerned that unless you disguise the focus of inquiry, you may not be able to truly assess these practices.
- When studying educational challenges when working with special needs students, you are confronted by a young adult with severe learning difficulties who demands to be included in the research project along with fellow members of the class, even though her parents have already refused on her behalf. The young adult is 18 years old.
- In writing up the results on a study of three local preschool nurseries for publication, you realize that the analysis is likely to be interpreted by parents and the local media as suggesting that one of these nurseries is far inferior. However, there were several beneficial aspects of that nursery not quantified as part of the initial study, and that information is not available from the other two nurseries to analyze.
- During the course of investigating induction processes in a military training establishment, you witness what appeared to be severe bullying of a new recruit by two of the staff. If you interfere you may jeopardize your data collection and integrity of your research.
- Using the one scenario you selected, compose a professional letter as if you were a graduate student currently faced with the dilemma. Write a professional letter to your graduate research advisor discussing the hypothetical situation (scenario) and how you think it should be handled. Make sure to include the following:
- A professional salutation and tone throughout the letter.
- Briefly describe the scenario.
- Describe two ethically viable responses for consideration. For each response, include:
- the principle from the APA Code of Conduct that is most at stake and your rationale
- cite at least one ethical standard from the APA Code of Conduct (using both the number and its title – for instance 1.01 Misuse of Psychologists’ Work) and discuss its relevance
- This means, in total you must have at least two ethically valid ways to respond with a total of at least two principles and two ethical standards as support, with a personally written justification of your selections.
- Include citations throughout your letter and a complete reference section at the end of your letter using current APA style format.
- Minimum number of references: 1 (the APA Code of Ethics)
Your topic thread must be at least 400 words.
Instructions: Replies
Reply to at least two of your classmates’ threads:
- No quotes are allowed – paraphrase, put information into your own words, and cite appropriately using current APA formatting conventions
- Address all required components for maximum points
- Your two replies must be 200 words each
Content
For each reply, respond as if you were the research advisor for the graduate student seeking advice. Make sure to include all the following components:
- Did the graduate student adequately justify two ethically viable responses to the dilemma? If not, what is missing?
- Select the solution you feel is the best response (it can be one of the proposed solutions or you can come up with your own).
- Include at least one citation to justify your response (APA Ethics Code, Federal regulations, and/or Bible).
- Create a Reference section for all citations using current APA style format (1 entry minimum).
Format
- All replies must incorporate at least 1 in-text citation to the APA Ethics Code and a Reference section.
- Replies to your peers should be thoughtful, educated, and professional.
- Avoid unsubstantiated opinions or claims, personal comments, or general comments such as the following, which will result in loss of points:
- “Great job on your introduction / discussion post,”
- “I totally agree with everything you said,”
- “Good luck in the rest of the class,” etc.
Make sure to check the Discussion Grading Rubric before you start the Discussion: Ethical Dilemma in Research Assignment.
Please see the Discussion: Ethical Dilemma in Research resources under the Discussion: Ethical Dilemma in Research page.
References
Hammersley, M. and Traianou, A. (2012) Ethics and Educational Research, British Educational Research Association on-line resource. Retrieved from http://www.learnersfirst.net/private/wp-content/uploads/Ethics-and-Educational-Research.pdf
