What are the potential consequences of unethical research practices?
So there are several areas that is being considered if a researcher put himself in unethical practices in research. Number one, harm to participants of course. So essentially, the real goal of the research ethics is to protect the human participants. Now if there is unethical practices, of course you put to harm your participants.
Number two, it compromises research integrity. Nawawalan ng halaga o nawawalan ng integridad yung pinaka-research mo and that impacts the research community. Actually, for us professionals who are involved in researches and who are known in research, very important yan yung pinaka research integrity.
Number three is undermining public trust. Of course, we have experienced that. There are several journals and or articles recently that has been publishing fraud data. Say for example, during COVID-19, a lot of data that has been released, however some are fabricated. And the consequences of that is, of course, the journal publisher do not stop from scrutinizing, especially it’s a new topic. Some researches that has been published immediately were recanted and that has an impact sa mga authors. Usually, pag nagsubmit ka doon sa ibang publisher or sa ibang journal article, naka-markup ka. Parang credit card yan. Pagka marami kang utang, nakamarkup yung name mo. And so therefore, mahihirapan kang magpublish ng other papers.
Another is it has a legal consequence. Just like I’ve said, ang research ethics is subsumed sa data privacy, which has a legal impact. I’m not a lawyer, but if one violates the human rights of a person, that has a legal impact.
Another repercussion is in terms of funding. If you do unethical practices, usually funders, tumatalikod sayo yan. Hindi ka nakakakuha ng mga funder. Kasi yung mga funder, magkakakilala yang mga yan. So when you are tagged as, parang blacklist, as a researcher, mahirap kang kumuha ng funding. Paano kung you need it? So yon yung consequences.
Another one is stifling scientific progress. A good research is a continuous research. Yun yung cycle. Kasi yung mga researcher, they read recommendations diba. From that recommendation, pwedeng magcome up ng new research. Ngayon, kung fabricated or mayroong tinge ng falsehood yung mga results mo, paano yon magiging continuous? Or sometimes, they would create an article that would recant yung credibility mo as a researcher and a writer.
Another is professional relationships. Mahirap yon. Walang makikipagcollaborate sayo na mga other researcher, lalo na kung alam na may tinge ka ng falsehood ng mga data na nirerelease mo. Parang mga doktor yan. Us as a researcher, as a scientific researcher, as a scientist, we have a group of course. And pinaguusapan namin yan. So may repercussions yan sa professional relationships.
Another is erosion of research culture. In terms of global repercussions, if you release data that is false, mahirap yon. Research kasi is an evidence based approach to a policy making body. Paano kung false yung nirelease mo? How will you convince policymakers to adapt it? Yon.
