Often, research raises ethical concerns, especially when humans or animals are involved. For years, we have debated the parameters of ethics and its applications. For instance, during scientific experiments, ethical standards generally entail what is socially acceptable or not. But where do we draw the line? What makes research ethical?
As a non-profit organization in Tamarac, Florida, we at Selective Mutism Foundation, Inc. value the principles of research ethics. Our advocacy lies in understanding and promoting awareness of selective mutism as a disorder among children and adults. Hence, ethics play a role in studying subjects with said condition.
The fundamental components of research ethics include:
- Transparency
The purpose of research is to augment knowledge. With this, our campaign group believes that honesty, openness, and integrity reduce data misrepresentation, fabrication, and falsification.
- Social Responsibility
Most of the time, research involves cooperation among several individuals from different disciplines. This collaborative work holds researchers accountable for their study and its impact on society and the community.
- Respect
Researchers should understand that small lapses may cause harm to human rights, public health safety, and other concerns. To respect life means laying out standards and protocols and adhering to these guidelines at all times.
- Legality
Lastly, the scientific community has designed ethical norms to protect intellectual property and personal privacy as well as uphold human law. Thus, regulations on data sharing, copyright, authorship, and more are in place.
If you want to support our research efforts, we encourage you to be a part of our campaign. Our public service organization in Florida highly appreciates all donors, volunteers, and anyone who wishes to make a difference in the world.