Ethical Engineering: Definitions, Theories and Techniques - Ethical Engineering for International Development and Environmental Sustainability - page 49

Process-related ethical issues include the following:

1. Disabled people being pressurised to participate in a study because they know
the researcher, have benefi tted from a device the research group has previously
developed or think they will be higher up the queue to obtain this or other devices.
2. Unethical practices related to working with disabled end users, including not
treating them with respect, pressurising them to take part in studies or not setting
up fully accessible environments in which disabled end users can participate
fully and properly express their views.
3. Possible role confl icts, for instance, if some of the tests take place in a hospital
and the researcher(s) have medical or nursing training.
4. Setting of appropriate boundaries, including with regard to expectations of con-
tact outside the project and the development of friendships between researchers
and disabled participants.

4.2 Research Ethics

Research raises a number of very specifi c ethical issues. These can be divided into three
main categories: (1) the research aims and applications, (2) the conduct of the research
and presentation of results and (3) treatment of minority and dissenting views and
individuals.
Much of the discussion of research ethics has focused on issues relating to the
conduct of research, but the other two categories are equally important. The fi rst
category can be further divided into (1) ethical aims and (2) trying to ensure that the
results of the research are only used in ethical ways.

4.2.1 The Ethics of Research Aims

Issues that should be taken into account in considering the ethics of research aims
include the following:

1. The motivation for carrying out the research.
2. The nature of the expected results, including whether they are likely to contrib-
ute to solving real social, developmental and environmental problems and/or
increasing knowledge.
3. Whether the research involves an effective use of (scarce) resources.
4. Who the research is sponsored by, whether the sponsoring organisation(s) have
ethical policies, the nature of the funders' core activities and any ethically
questionable practices or activities by the funders.
5. Likely applications of the research, including by the funders.
6. The ways in which different groups are likely to be affected by the research.

If the aims of the research are ethical and it is carried out in an ethical manner,