In the research world, the parameters of research are primarily set by the standards of conduct researchers and their institutions have adopted. These standards are based on the values of objectivity, honesty, openness, accountability, fairness, and stewardship that underlie research integrity.
However, these best practices need to be revised to cover every ethical situation in research. Therefore, institutions and their leaders are responsible for promoting research integrity through organizational and management decisions that support these principles.
Objectivity
One of the most critical parameters of research and practice is objectivity. The research study is based on facts and evidence rather than personal emotions and preferences.
Objectivity is essential in many aspects of life, including in the workplace, where it is vital to maintain employee loyalty and avoid ethical conflicts. Using objective methods to measure performance, for example, allows managers to determine whether an employee is genuinely working hard or not.
Objectivity can be difficult to grasp, but it is critical for a company’s and its employees’ success. Failure to maintain objectivity in the workplace can result in disgruntled employees, poor motivation, and even civil lawsuits.
Honesty
Honesty is an excellent character quality that promotes trust, fosters healthy relationships, strengthens organizations and societies, and prevents harm. In a world where dishonesty is often seen as satisfying worldly desires, the importance of honest behavior cannot be overstated.
Integrity is about committing to a set of beliefs, values, or commitments that matter most to you. This can mean sacrificing personal comfort for the sake of your moral principles.
In the workplace, integrity is also about committing to new projects with complete honesty. For example, if your team leader assigns you a project, you must be honest about how much time and expertise you will need to complete the task.
Openness
Openness to experience is one of the five personality traits typically referred to as the Big Five. The other four are extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and neuroticism.
Open people are more likely to pay attention to both abstract and sensory information (ideas and experiences), allowing them to see things more comprehensively and inclusively. They are also less prone to latent inhibition, a psychological tendency to suppress critical stimuli that might otherwise penetrate awareness.
This is one reason why people who score high in openness to experience tend to perform better on creative thinking tests, such as those called divergent thinking tasks. Other research shows that open people are more enthusiastic consumers of art and music. They are also more likely to have liberal political views.
Accountability
Accountability is a crucial parameter of research and practice. It involves recognizing your actions, committing to them, and taking responsibility for them.
When you take accountability for your work, you set an excellent example for your teammates. You are also building trust and helping them know that you will do what needs to be done, no matter how long it takes or what challenges you face.
Researchers often define parameters that give them important information about a specific population or group. These can help them understand what they are studying and determine whether there is a problem within the population.
Fairness
Fairness means treating people as they deserve and not letting your feelings or desires bias your judgments about them. This is one of the most important qualities you can practice to be a fair person and a fair community.
There are several ways to define fairness. These include justness, equality, and impartiality.
Justness emphasizes justice based on rules and principles that are generally accepted. Equity means a fair distribution of goods and resources.
Some research studies show that practitioners and researchers value different qualities of research, especially study design. For example, practitioners may prefer randomized controlled trial designs, which are more unbiased.