PO217 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: European Cooperation In Science And Technology
Document Summary
There should be no deception involved in the research. There should be no harm (physical, psychological, or emotional) done to participants (confidentiality) Participation should be voluntary (right to withdrawal) Participation should be based on informed consent. Informed consent can be defined as the idea that respondents in a research projects fully understand the nature of the project and the extent of their participation and agree to participate based on these understandings. This definition raises 4 issues: competence, voluntarism, full information, comprehension. Why can the principle of informed consent be problematic. Whatever a person concerned about his or her own welfare, would need to know before making a decision. The cost-benefit approach involved weighing the potential contribution to knowledge and human welfare against the potential negative effects on the dignity and welfare of the participants. The ethical issues involved can be subtle, ambiguous, and debatable. We are not necessarily weighing predictable cost and benefits, but possible costs and benefits.
