Cultivating Researcher Integrity: Virtue-Based Approaches to Research Ethics
Virtue Ethics in the Conduct and Governance of Social Science Research
ISBN: 978-1-78714-608-2, eISBN: 978-1-78714-607-5
Publication date: 19 April 2018
Abstract
This chapter presents a virtue-based approach to research ethics which both complements and challenges dominant principle- and rule-based ethical codes and governance frameworks. Virtues are qualities of character that contribute to human and ecological flourishing, focussing on the dispositions and motivations of moral agents (in this case, researchers) as opposed to simply their actions. The chapter argues for the usefulness of ‘researcher integrity’, in the context of increasing interest internationally in ‘research integrity’ frameworks for regulating research practice. ‘Researcher integrity’ is analysed, including weak and strong versions of the concept (conduct according to current standards, versus reflexive commitment to ideals of what research should be at its best). Researcher integrity in its stronger sense is depicted as an overarching complex virtue, holding together and balancing other virtues such as courage, care, trustworthiness, respectfulness and practical wisdom. Consideration is given to educating researchers and university students as virtuous researchers, rather than simply ensuring that rules are followed and risks minimised. Several approaches are outlined, including Socratic dialogue, to develop attentiveness and respectfulness and participatory theatre to rehearse different responses to ethical challenges in research. Some limitations of virtue ethics are noted, including dangers of reinforcing a culture of blaming researchers for institutional failings, and its potential to be co-opted by those who wish to indoctrinate rather than cultivate virtues. Nevertheless, it is an important counter-weight to current trends that see research ethics as entailing learning sets of rules and how to implement them (to satisfy institutional research governance requirements), rather than processes of critical and responsible reflection.
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Acknowledgements
Acknowledgements
This chapter is based on papers given at the Academy of Social Sciences and British Sociological Association event, ‘Virtue Ethics in the Practice and Review of Social Science Research’, London, May 2015 and the Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues Conference ‘Cultivating Virtues: Interdisciplinary Approaches’, Oxford, January 2016. I am grateful to discussants and participants at both events for helpful comments and to Nathan Emmerich for editorial suggestions. The chapter also draws in parts on adaptations of my previously published work on professional integrity, particularly Banks (2010, 2012) and Banks and Gallagher (2009).
Citation
Banks, S. (2018), "Cultivating Researcher Integrity: Virtue-Based Approaches to Research Ethics", Emmerich, N. (Ed.) Virtue Ethics in the Conduct and Governance of Social Science Research (Advances in Research Ethics and Integrity, Vol. 3), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 21-44. https://doi.org/10.1108/S2398-601820180000003002
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2018 Emerald Publishing Limited