The Responsible Conduct Of Research Is Essential To Protect ✓ Solved

The Responsible Conduct Of Research Is Essential To Protecting Both Hu

The responsible conduct of research is essential to protecting both human and non-human animal subjects. Vulnerable populations have been exploited throughout the centuries, and even today, research subjects are at risk of injury or death. As a researcher, you must be able to identify potential areas of ethical concern. Sometimes these areas are obvious, whereas other times you must consider the far-reaching effects of the research on study participants. In this discussion, you will consider the possible ethical dilemmas that might occur while conducting your research.

To prepare for this discussion: review the textbook chapters on ethical issues in research, the ethical requirements for research, the informed consent process, the potential populations participating in your research, and consider any conflicts of interest for yourself or other members of the research team.

By Day 4, post a comprehensive response that addresses only the following: identify the population and setting of your research; what are two ethical issues that may affect your proposed research; how can you avoid these issues; will your research require IRB or IACUC review? If so, what level of review? Why?

Sample Paper For Above instruction

The proposed research project focuses on studying the effects of a new nutritional intervention aimed at improving cognitive function among elderly residents in assisted living facilities. The population comprises individuals aged 65 and older residing in these facilities, representing a vulnerable population due to age-related health issues and potential cognitive impairments. The setting involves multiple assisted living centers within a metropolitan area, providing a controlled environment for data collection and intervention implementation.

Two primary ethical issues could impact this research. First, obtaining informed consent presents a challenge because some elderly participants may have cognitive impairments, which could hinder their ability to fully understand the research purpose, procedures, and potential risks. To address this, researchers should implement a process involving legal guardians or designated proxies for obtaining consent, ensuring that participants’ autonomy and rights are protected while considering their capacity to assent to participation. Second, the risk of exploitation or coercion is heightened in vulnerable populations, especially if participants feel pressured to participate due to the influence of caregivers or staff members. To avoid this, researchers must emphasize voluntary participation, clearly communicate that refusal will not affect the standard care they receive, and guarantee confidentiality to foster trust and mitigate undue influence.

In this case, the research would require approval from an Institutional Review Board (IRB), given the involvement of human subjects. Due to the vulnerability of the population, the study would likely qualify for expedited review, as it involves minimal risk but still warrants careful oversight to ensure ethical standards. The IRB review process would scrutinize the informed consent procedures, data confidentiality measures, and the safeguards in place to protect participants from potential harm.

Implementing ethical safeguards, such as thorough consent processes, ongoing monitoring of participant well-being, and strict confidentiality protocols, is critical in ethically conducting research with vulnerable populations. By addressing these issues proactively, researchers can uphold the integrity of their work and protect participants from harm, ensuring that the research contributes valuable knowledge without compromising ethical standards.

References

  • American Psychological Association. (2020). Ethical principles of psychologists and code of conduct. Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/ethics/code
  • National Institutes of Health. (2018). Protecting human research participants. NIH Policy on Human Subjects Research. https://grants.nih.gov/policies/instructions-publications/research-integrity/human-research.htm
  • Office for Human Research Protections. (2018). Informed consent essentials. Retrieved from https://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/regulations-and-policy/belmont-report/index.html
  • World Health Organization. (2011). Ethical considerations for research on vulnerable populations. WHO Publications. https://www.who.int
  • Fisher, C. B. (2019). Decoding the ethics code: A practical guide for psychologists. Sage Publications.
  • Resnik, D. B. (2015). Institutional review boards: Management and function. Accountability in Research, 22(3), 163-175.
  • Wendler, D., & Grady, C. (2015). What should research participants understand? The ethic of informed consent. American Journal of Bioethics, 15(2), 25–27.
  • National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research. (1979). The Belmont report: Ethical principles and guidelines for the protection of human subjects of research. HHS.
  • Maria, E., & Vega, M. (2020). Ethical considerations in research with elderly populations. Journal of Geriatric Research, 12(4), 45-52.
  • Kaiser, K. (2017). Protecting the rights of vulnerable populations in research. Ethics & Medicine, 33(4), 200-205.

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