What is the purpose of research ethics?

The purpose of research ethics is fundamentally rooted in promoting integrity and responsible conduct in research. This includes ensuring that researchers adhere to standards of honesty and transparency when conducting their studies. Ethical guidelines help protect the rights and welfare of research subjects, foster trust between researchers and participants, and contribute to the credibility of the research community as a whole.

Adhering to ethical principles ensures that research findings are valid and reliable, as researchers are guided to avoid misconduct such as fabrication, falsification, and plagiarism. This commitment to ethics not only benefits the immediate study participants but also upholds the integrity of the research process, enabling others to build upon the findings in a trustworthy manner.

While government compliance is important, it is part of a broader ethical framework rather than its core purpose. Maintaining profitability and encouraging competition are more aligned with organizational goals or market dynamics rather than the ethical considerations that govern proper research conduct. Thus, the focus on integrity and responsible behavior in research is central to the function and necessity of research ethics.