Articles tagged with Research Ethics
A Baylor University study reveals that amoral management, where leaders fail to respond to ethical situations, leads to a lack of moral courage among employees and increased unethical behavior. Organizations can prevent this by providing clear messages on ethics and engaging supervisors in conversations with their team members.
The COVID-19 pandemic led to sharp declines in outpatient and emergency department visits for patients with chronic conditions, with more pronounced reductions depending on age, gender, and region. Recent surveys have found that some patients continue to postpone their care due to various factors.
Researchers found that fact-checking labels, when attached to online news headlines, are more effective when shown immediately after participants read the headlines. This approach reduced people's misclassification of those headlines by 25.3 percent, compared to 8.6 percent and 5.7 percent with other timing methods.
A paper in the European Journal of Human Genetics warns that coercive DNA collection is unethical and damaging to medical research. The authors call for a mass reassessment of literature and require further information on consent and ethical approvals.
Researchers from the University of Kent's Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology found that elephant ivory is still being sold on eBay, often disguised as bone. The study reveals that only a small percentage of these items were removed by eBay, highlighting the ongoing challenge of combating illegal wildlife trade.
A new study suggests that teaching sexual consent using a continuum style approach helps young people develop a better understanding of sexual rights and ethics. The approach was tested in workshops across seven educational institutes and found to be effective in promoting positive sexual ethics.
The Einstein Foundation Berlin launches its new award to promote quality in research, recognizing contributions from researchers and institutions. The award will be funded by €500,000 a year and will be awarded for the first time in November 2021 in Berlin.
A University of Massachusetts Amherst study recommends guidelines for the ethical handling of opioid use disorder information stored in the Public Health Data Warehouse. The research highlights concerns about public trust and potential misuses of big data, and proposes safeguards to prioritize health equity.
Research fatigue in marginalized communities is a systemic issue that requires systematic responses, as noted by Florence Ashley. The article emphasizes the need for researchers to ensure studies are responsive to the community's needs and tailored to minimize fatigue.
Two new papers address outstanding ethical issues in BCI technology, including physical and psychological effects, and offer guidance for addressing those issues. The studies also explore the potential of BCI technologies for cognitive enhancement and highlight the need for more public engagement with the field.
Researchers found that humans are more willing to employ deceptive negotiating techniques when using virtual agents, particularly those with prior experience or negative negotiation experiences. The study suggests that people may feel more comfortable relying on virtual agents to act deceptively, as they perceive it as less personal.
A new report highlights the need for ethical guidance in responding to high local rates of suicide risk discovered through anonymous student health surveys. CU researchers urge national public health and education associations to produce clear guidelines for surveyors, emphasizing the importance of timely intervention and support.
A global survey reveals a lack of public trust in how genetic data is shared, hindering genomic research. Less than half of respondents would be happy to share their genetic information for more than one purpose.
An interdisciplinary team at TUM advocates integrating ethics into AI development from the beginning. Key findings show that embedded ethics approach can promote ethical awareness and social issues analysis in engineering teams. The project aims to develop concrete solutions for engineers and designers.
The University of Texas at Austin has been selected to lead the NSF AI Institute for Foundations of Machine Learning, aiming to develop new classes of algorithms for more sophisticated AI technologies. The institute will focus on addressing challenges such as noise and diffuseness in modern datasets.
Researchers have found a mathematical means to help regulators and businesses manage AI systems' biases towards making unethical and costly commercial choices. The new 'Unethical Optimization Principle' provides a simple formula to estimate its impact, aiming to reduce the risk of AI-driven unethical strategies.
Researchers at the University of Missouri found three common ethical issues in US presidential election press coverage between 2000-2016: failing to exercise independent judgment, underestimating new technologies, and failing to provide a representative picture of the electorate.
CHI studies could accelerate vaccine development, but raise significant ethical concerns due to risks and potential harm to participants. An expert framework outlines conditions under which such studies would be ethically acceptable.
Researchers warn of the risks of virtual and augmented reality becoming increasingly realistic, leading to difficulties in distinguishing between reality and virtual experiences. This can result in problems such as remembering virtual events as real and failing to distinguish between actual and simulated events. The study also highligh...
Ethicists from Carnegie Mellon and McGill universities recommend prioritizing rigorous research approaches, such as master protocols, to ensure high-quality clinical trials. They argue that crises like the COVID-19 pandemic heighten the responsibility of key actors in the research enterprise to uphold scientific standards.
Assistant Professor Dr. Murtuza Jadliwala is developing a new approach to protect against uncoordinated sensing and actuation in modern ubiquitous environments. His project aims to provide holistic privacy protection by efficiently sharing sensitive user-contexts across diverse devices and applications.
A mobile contact tracing app can reduce transmission at any stage of the epidemic, helping to bring the pandemic under control. The app uses low-energy Bluetooth to log close proximity contacts and alerts users if they become infected, supporting health services and reducing serious social impacts.
Ning Li has been recognized with the Distinguished Early Career Contributions-Science Award for his significant contributions to I-O psychology within seven years of receiving his PhD. His work on individual differences and team dynamics has garnered over 2,700 citations and an h-index of 19.
The US healthcare system is facing significant mistrust issues, with experts calling for action to improve patient trust and care. Experts recommend five actions: exploring patients' mistrust, developing individual and institutional efforts to mend and prevent mistrust, being culturally humble, making empathy part of relationships, and...
A pilot program launched by the Berlin Institute of Health aims to enhance the quality and value of translational research through training, tools, and monetary incentives. The QUEST Center's initiative seeks to address concerns over transparency and reproducibility in biomedical science.
The article discusses the vulnerability of crowdsourced research participants and the need for improved ethics oversight. Proposed measures include encouraging collective action by crowd workers and ground-up crowdsourced research ethics guidelines, as well as reviewing the differences between expanded access and Right to Try pathways.
A new study found that people in Eastern countries are less likely to support sacrificing someone to save more lives, highlighting the importance of considering local ethics in AI development. The 'Trolley Dilemma' thought experiment showed a significant difference in willingness to sacrifice one person versus five.
The ISSCR is updating its guidelines to address the use of pluripotent stem cells in modeling early human embryo development. The new guidelines outline principles and recommendations for researchers, including oversight by special committees and reporting to Embryo Research Oversight (EMRO) processes.
A new study examines how made-to-order production affects consumer behavior, finding that it prompts them to weigh ethical production attributes more heavily. This can lead to stronger feelings of guilt or gratification, which then mediates purchase intentions.
Researchers found that individuals go on to achieve eventual success if they learn from previous failures and apply that knowledge forward, whereas others continue to fail until they drop out. The model can aid in making better use of past failed experience for achieving success.
The study identifies three dimensions of meaning in the brain: language, reference to self or external source, and social constructs. The researchers used functional MRI scans to analyze neural activation patterns for individual abstract concepts across participants.
A study published by the American Psychological Association found that consumers are less likely to support organizations led by women after an ethical failure, but more willing to forgive them for competence failures. The research highlights the impact of gender stereotypes on consumer perceptions of female-led companies.
An international team is working to develop an ethical framework for ancient DNA research, incorporating diverse voices and expertise from Indigenous communities. The project aims to foster better collaboration and address concerns around the use of human genetic material.
A new decision-making and motion-planning technology has been developed to limit injuries and damage when self-driving vehicles are involved in unavoidable crashes. The system considers various factors such as relative speeds, angles of collision, and differences in mass and vehicle type to determine the best possible manoeuvre.
A new project aims to investigate the genetic influences on behaviors, producing polygenic risk scores for individualized interventions. However, experts express concerns about the risks of misusing this research to justify social inequality.
Researchers are expanding brain organoid research, raising concerns about the potential for consciousness in host animals. The authors propose an ethical framework grounded in scientific principles to address these issues and ensure responsible use of this technology.
A study found that lop-eared rabbits are more prone to ear canal narrowing, ear infections, tooth overgrowth, and dental problems, potentially leading to pain and discomfort. The research calls into question the ethics of breeding and buying these popular pet rabbits.
A study published in Heliyon found that early life experiences shape individuals' beliefs about themselves and the world, contributing to chronic obesity and frequent bingeing. Schema therapy model can help address these underlying issues by identifying and changing maladaptive schemas and coping modes.
A study on learning health organizations highlights the paradox of bystander ethics, where researchers must navigate ethical principles with quality improvement research. The authors propose a workaround to address this challenge, but critics argue it is inadequate.
A new study by Baylor University found that supervisors driven by profit motive can create low-quality relationships with employees, leading to a loss of performance. Employees perceive these relationships as distrustful and unaffectionate, resulting in decreased productivity and commitment.
A new national study led by Columbia University aims to understand barriers to minority group participation in genetic studies and support policies to create a more diverse genetic database. The four-year study will analyze diversity and inclusion practices at academic medical centers across the US.
A team created a method that allows three people to work together to solve a problem using only their minds. The BrainNet system uses electroencephalography caps and a brain-to-brain interface to transmit signals between participants, enabling them to collaborate on tasks like playing Tetris.
A new study suggests that NGOs can use targeted reports to encourage companies to adopt more responsible practices through vertical integration. This approach can help promote sustainable sourcing throughout industries, even in the face of high external pressure. By specifying both violating and non-violating firms in their reports, NG...
New research finds that viewing pornography at work is linked to increased shirking of work and lying. The study suggests that this negative behavior is caused by a propensity to dehumanize others, leading to potential issues with sexual harassment and hostile work environments.
Lancaster University scientists have drawn up new guidelines to help designers build in safeguards for children using programmable Internet computing devices. The research aims to mitigate risks such as peer-to-peer abuse, bullying, and exploitation of data generated by children.
The Centre of Genomics and Policy at McGill University will develop policies, tools, and support to enable efficient and ethical international data sharing for the Human Cell Atlas. The project aims to address regulatory and ethical questions arising from research at scale, including patient consent and guiding principles.
A study explores how parents make decisions about enrolling their critically ill children in research, finding that low-risk studies with potential benefits to future children are more likely to be enrolled. Another article highlights the importance of considering inclusion benefits in ethics committee assessments of research studies.
Researchers have developed a high-tech support system called BrainEx that can preserve limited brain function in isolated postmortem brains. The system delivers an artificial blood substitute to prevent degradation and allows for the study of cellular and molecular functions, but without functional activity in brain circuits.
Researchers at Yale University successfully restored circulation and cellular activity in a pig's brain four hours after its death using a specially designed chemical solution. However, the treated brain lacked recognizable global electrical signals associated with normal brain function.
A recent study published in Conservation Letters reveals that working with Indigenous rangers produced significant improvements in conservation research outcomes. The study, led by Dr Georgia Ward-Fear, demonstrates the value of culturally diverse teams and local knowledge in scientific research.
Researchers argue that eliminating the entire tsetse fly family is not ethically justified due to its intrinsic value. Targeted elimination campaigns are proposed as a compromise to minimize harm while promoting human and animal well-being.
A research team at Korea Brain Research Institute has developed a technology to produce dorsal cortical neurons utilizing induced pluripotent stem cells and tropical fish collagen. The breakthrough could lead to the treatment of brain diseases such as Parkinson's Disease by mass producing neurons using stem cells.
Researchers at the University of Jyväskylä identified four moral identity statuses in Finnish leaders: achieved, foreclosed, diffused, and moratorium. An achieved identity is characterized by a clear, self-chosen value framework, while foreclosed identities are based on adopted values without critical evaluation. The study highlights t...
A new report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine highlights the importance of social and behavioral sciences in advancing intelligence analysis. The report identifies key opportunities for research to strengthen intelligence assessments and prepares the IC for evolving security threats.
Recent studies indicate that women and scholars from underrepresented groups often don't receive proper authorship credit, due to biases in leadership positions and collaborations. Experts will provide guidance on navigating power dynamics and promoting responsible authorship decisions at the AAAS Annual Meeting.
A Texas A&M-led project will examine the culture and climate related to sexual harassment in STEM fields, aiming to prevent such incidents. The research aims to develop tools for universities to improve their handling of sexual harassment concerns.
The inaugural issue of Ethics & Human Research explores new challenges in US human subjects research, including the impact of single-IRB mandates and genome editing. The journal also examines the need for local knowledge in multisite studies and highlights the difficulties countries face in adhering to international ethical standards w...
The Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine has been awarded £11.8 million by the UK government to support people living in informal settlements in low and middle-income countries. The grant will help precarious individuals claim their rights to health and well-being, and improve access to services.
Researchers found that young-onset diabetes is associated with a higher risk of hospitalization for mental illness compared to usual-onset diabetes. The study also showed that adults with young-onset diabetes had excess hospitalizations across their lifespan.
A study published in Nature Human Behaviour found that people who strongly oppose genetically modified foods often believe they know more about the topic than they actually do. Despite a scientific consensus on GM food safety and nutritional benefits, many opponents think they are knowledgeable on the subject.