The underlying commitment factors influencing research ethics among graduate students in Tabriz University: a Grounded Theory approach

Authors
Mohammad Abbaszadeh 1
Hossein Banifatemeh 1
Mohammad Bagher Alizadeh-Aghdam 1
Ali Boudaghi 2
1 Faculty of Law and Social Sciences, Tabriz University
2 PhD Student in Sociology, Tabriz University
Abstract
In the present era, ethics is the key concept. Development of information and communication technologies has effected all areas of human life and actors' ethical and professional life in scientific fields not exempt from these developments. Increased use of the internet and cyberspace has attracted the attention of scientists in academic research into emerging concepts such as computer ethics, translation ethics, knowledge ethics and most important of all research ethics. The purpose of this study was to investigate Predisposing factors for research ethics and method was a qualitative with an emphasis on grounded theory approach. Participants in this study were 12 graduate students at Tabriz University in 2014.  In this study, a purposive sampling and the critical cases strategy was used. Data were collected through appointment interview method with emphasis on the information confidentiality of students' information. The central questions in this study were: What are the factors effecting noncompliance to research ethics? What are the consequences of noncompliance to research ethics? What to do? Based on Strauss and Corbin's systematic and analytical procedures, data from interviews were analyzed in three steps: open coding, axial and selective. Research validity obtained through peer debriefing, members control and self-monitoring. Results showed that personal factors (delayed gratification,  instrumental attitude toward research and religiosity   of researchers) and structural (incomplete educational socialization, lack of material welfare, lack of a non-material welfare, normative pressures of society, social learning, quantitative oriented higher education,  poor systematic supervision, the negative attitudes of society and the scientific community toward students) are couragements not to follow the standards of research ethics. Doxa Cracy in the anomy as the central core is discovered.

Keywords

1. Abbaszadeh, M. (2012). Validity and reliability in qualitative researches. Journal of Applied Sociology, 23 (1), 19-34 (in Persian).
2. Adib, Y., Fathiazar, E., & Mola Ghalghachi, S. (2015). Studying the experience of professors and students of Tabriz University of attention to research ethics in phenomenological study. Strategy for Culture, 29, 149-178 (in Persian).
3. Alizadeh Aghdam, M. B., Abbaszadeh, M., & Shishani, A. (2011). The study of determinants of adherence to scientific ethics faculty members, case study: Tabriz University. Science and Technology Policy, 3(4), 57-69. (In Persian).
4. Amin Mozaffari, F., & Shamsi, L. (2011). The study of methods and approaches to commercialization of university research, case study: Tabriz University. Journal of Ethics in Science and Technology, 3(4), 15-29 (in Persian).
5. Amiri, A.N., Hemmati, M., & Mobayyeni, M. (2010). Professional ethics, necessary for the organization. Moral Knowledge, 1(4), 137-159.
6. Arasteh, H. R., & Jahed, H.A. (2011). Ethics in universities and centers of higher education an option to improve behavior. Journal of Transplantation Science, 1(2), 31-40 (in Persian).
7. Bahraini, N. (2010). Research ethics as knowledge. Culture Strategy, (8-9), 39-57.
8. Behroozi, M., Qasemi, L., & Fadaiyan, B. (2014). Individual and organizational factors affecting the professional ethics: Staff of Bushehr custom main office. Social and Behavioral Sciences, 143, 325 - 329(in Persian).
9. Brown, M. E., & Trevino, L. K. (2006). Ethical leadership: A review and future directions. The Leadership Quarterly, 6(17), 516-695.
10. Clark, J., & Walker, R. (2011), Research ethics in victimization studies: Widening the lens. Violence Against Women, 17(12), 1489 -1508.
11. Creswell, J. W. (2012). Qualitative research and research design: Choosing among five approaches, translated by Hassan Danaeefard and Hosein Kazemi, Tehran: Eshraghi Press (in Persian).
12. Dorri, B., & Talebnejad, A. (2008). Investigating the conditions of strategic factors of knowledge creation in the universities affiliated to the ministry of science, research and technology in Iran. Quarterly Journal of Research and Planning in Higher Education, 14 (3), 1-20 (in Persian).
13. Farasatkhah, M. (2006). Scientific ethics key in promoting the higher education, mechanisms of professional ethics in quality assurance of higher education in Iran. Journal of Ethics in Science and Technology, 1(1), 13-28 (in Persian).
14. Fathi, M., Fekr Azad, H., Gaffari, G.R., & Bolhari, J. (2013). Predisposing the factors for marital unfaithfulness. Social Welfare Quarterly, 13(51), 109-131 (in Persian).
15. Guraya, S, Y., London, N. J. M., & Guraya, Sh. (2014). Ethics in medical research. Journal of Microscopy and Ultrastructure 2, 121-126.
16. Hammersley, M., Traianou, A. (2014), Foucault and Research Ethics: On the Autonomy of the Researcher, Qualitative Inquiry, 20(3): 227-238.
17. Iman, M. T., & Ghaffari Nasab, E. (2011). Ethical standards in human science research. Journal of Ethics in Science and Technology, 6(2), 1-11 (in Persian).
18. Jalaiepour, H.R., & Mohammadi, J. (2008). Recent theories of sociology. Tehran: Ney Press, 1-520 (in Persian).
19. Jenkins, R. (2006). Pierre Bourdieu. Translated by Chavoshiyan, H., & Jo Afshani, L., Tehran: Ney Press.
20. Kalshoven, K., Den Hartog, De. N., & Den Hoogh Annebel, H.B (2011). Ethical leadership at work questionnaire (ELW). The Leadership Quarterly, 22, 51-69.
21. Keivan Ara, M., Ojaghi, R., Cheshmeh Sohrabi, A., & Papi, A. (2013). Typology of cheat and plagiarism, using the experiences of experts in Isfahan, University of Medical Sciences. Health Information Management, 10(3), 460-449 (in Persian).
22. Khaleghi, N. (2008). Research ethics in the field of social sciences. Quarterly Journal Ethics in Science and Technology, (1 & 2), 83-92 (in Persian).
23. Lahman, M. K. E., Monica, R. G., Rodriguez, K. L., Graglia, P., & De Roche, K. K. (2011). Culturally responsive relational reflexive ethics in research. The Third Quall Quant, 45, 1397-1414
24. Mesbahi, M., & Abbaszadeh, A. (2013). A System model of professional ethics in higher education (qualitative research). Journal of Bioethics, 3 (10), 11-33 (in Persian).
25. Mohseni Tabrizi, A.R., Ghazi Tabatabaei, M., & Marjaei, S. H. (2010). Effect of issues and challenges of scientific environment on academic socialization. Quarterly Journal of Research and Planning in Higher Education, 16 (1), 45-67 (in Persian).
26. Rabbani Khorasgani, A., & Rabbany Esfahani, H. (2014) A qualitative study of family influence on women's delinquency (the case of female prisoners in Isfahan's central jail. Strategic Researches Security and Social Discipline, 3 (2), 17-35 (in Persian).
27. Rabbani, A., Rabbani, R., Hemmati, R., Qazi Tabatabaei, M., & Vedadhir, A. (2011). New modes of knowledge production sociological reflection on the development of ethical standards and behavior science in the field of science and technology. Quarterly Journal of Ethics in Science & Technology, 6(1), 12-24 (in Persian).
28. Sadat Sadidpour, S. (2012). Research ethics in social sciences. (Master's thesis). Al-Zahra University, Faculty of Social Sciences and Economics, 1-135 (in Persian).
29. Sanei, M., & Yari, M. (2013). Analysis of components of professional ethics in the human resource management. Quarterly Journal Ethics in Science and Technology, 9(1), 1-11 (in Persian).
30. Teixeira Poit, S. M., Cameron, A. E., & Schulman, M. D. (2011). Experiential learning and research ethics: Enhancing knowledge through action. Teaching Sociology, 39(3), 244-258.
31. Thomson, O. P., Petty, J., & Scholes, J. (2014). Rounding osteopathic research for introducing the grounded theory. International Journal of Osteopathic Medicine, 17, 167-186 (in Persian).
32. Vedadhir, A., Farhod, D., Ghazi Tabatabaee, M., & Tavassoli, G.A. (2008). Criteria of ethical behavior in performing the scientific work. Quarterly Journal of Ethics in Science and Technology, 3(3&4) (in Persian).
33. Young Mahon, P. (2014). Internet research and ethics: Transformative issues in nursing education research. Journal of Professional Nursing, 30(2), 124-129.
34. Zamani, B. E., Azimi, S. A., & Soleymani, N. (2013). Identifying and prioritizing the effective factors affecting the students’ plagiarism in Isfahan University. Quarterly Journal of Research and Planning in Higher Education, 19 (1), 91-110 (in Persian).

  • Receive Date 06 March 2023
  • Publish Date 06 March 2023