STA.

MONICA, MARIA BIANCA THERESE

BSTM 3-1N

Assignment # 1
1.) Definition of Research
According to ask.com, research is the systematic investigation into and study of materials
and sources in order to establish facts and reach new conclusions.
Scientifically, it is defined as performing a methodical study in order to prove a
hypothesis or answer a specific question.

2.)
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Importance of Research
Its purpose is to inform action
Enables everyone to pursue an in-depth original study about a topic of interest.
Well-conducted ones are vital to the success of global health endeavors.
Form the foundation of program development and policies all over the world.
Results of this can also be translated onto effective global health programs.
Goods research produces results that are examinable by peers, methodologies that can
be replicated, and knowledge that can be applied to real-world situations.
Enhances our knowledge of how to best address the worlds problems.
It is crucial to assessing your community and program needs, developing engaging
result-based curriculums, preparing the most effective outreach messages,
demonstrating student success and more.

3.) Ethics of Research

There are a number of key phrases that describe the system of ethical protections that
the contemporary social and medical research establishments have created to try to protect
better the rights of their research participants. The principle of voluntary participation
requires that people not be coerced into participating in research. This is especially relevant
where researchers had previously relied on 'captive audiences' for their subjects -- prisons,
universities, and places like that. Closely related to the notion of voluntary participation is the
requirement of informed consent. Essentially, this means that prospective research
participants must be fully informed about the procedures and risks involved in research and
must give their consent to participate. Ethical standards also require that researchers not put
participants in a situation where they might be at risk of harm as a result of their
participation. Harm can be defined as both physical and psychological. There are two
standards that are applied in order to help protect the privacy of research participants. Almost
all research guarantees the participants confidentiality -- they are assured that identifying
information will not be made available to anyone who is not directly involved in the study.
The stricter standard is the principle of anonymity which essentially means that the
participant will remain anonymous throughout the study -- even to the researchers
themselves. Clearly, the anonymity standard is a stronger guarantee of privacy, but it is
sometimes difficult to accomplish, especially in situations where participants have to be
measured at multiple time points (e.g., a pre-post study). Increasingly, researchers have had to

STA. MONICA, MARIA BIANCA THERESE

BSTM 3-1N

deal with the ethical issue of a person's right to service. Good research practice often requires
the use of a no-treatment control group -- a group of participants who do not get the treatment
or program that is being studied. But when that treatment or program may have beneficial
effects, persons assigned to the no-treatment control may feel their rights to equal access to
services are being curtailed.
Honesty
Strive for honesty in all scientific communications. Honestly report data, results, methods and
procedures, and publication status. Do not fabricate, falsify, or misrepresent data. Do not
deceive colleagues, granting agencies, or the public.
Objectivity
Strive to avoid bias in experimental design, data analysis, data interpretation, peer review,
personnel decisions, grant writing, expert testimony, and other aspects of research where
objectivity is expected or required. Avoid or minimize bias or self-deception. Disclose
personal or financial interests that may affect research.
Integrity
Keep your promises and agreements; act with sincerity; strive for consistency of thought and
action.
Carefulness
Avoid careless errors and negligence; carefully and critically examine your own work and the
work of your peers. Keep good records of research activities, such as data collection, research
design, and correspondence with agencies or journals.
Openness
Share data, results, ideas, tools, resources. Be open to criticism and new ideas.
Respect for Intellectual Property
Honor patents, copyrights, and other forms of intellectual property. Do not use unpublished
data, methods, or results without permission. Give credit where credit is due. Give proper
acknowledgement or credit for all contributions to research. Never plagiarize.
Confidentiality
Protect confidential communications, such as papers or grants submitted for publication,
personnel records, trade or military secrets, and patient records.
Responsible Publication
Publish in order to advance research and scholarship, not to advance just your own career.
Avoid wasteful and duplicative publication.
Responsible Mentoring
Help to educate, mentor, and advise students. Promote their welfare and allow them to make
their own decisions.
Respect for colleagues

STA. MONICA, MARIA BIANCA THERESE

BSTM 3-1N

Respect your colleagues and treat them fairly.

Social Responsibility
Strive to promote social good and prevent or mitigate social harms through research, public
education, and advocacy.
Non-Discrimination
Avoid discrimination against colleagues or students on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity, or
other factors that are not related to their scientific competence and integrity.
Competence
Maintain and improve your own professional competence and expertise through lifelong
education and learning; take steps to promote competence in science as a whole.
Legality
Know and obey relevant laws and institutional and governmental policies.
Animal Care
Show proper respect and care for animals when using them in research. Do not conduct
unnecessary or poorly designed animal experiments.
Human Subjects Protection
When conducting research on human subjects, minimize harms and risks and maximize
benefits; respect human dignity, privacy, and autonomy; take special precautions with
vulnerable populations; and strive to distribute the benefits and burdens of research fairly.
* Adapted from Shamoo A and Resnik D. 2009. Responsible Conduct of Research, 2nd ed.
(New York: Oxford University Press).