Objectivity

Ethical Research

Integrity

Professionalism

Curiosity

Quest for the truth [in any objectives]

Helpful & Team player

Thanks for your question Catia.

By definition an investigator seeks to uncover truth in order to broaden our understanding of the world or a phenomenon.

The systematized knowledge produced by investigators is of great value not only to the current members of society but their posterity as well. This is because future investigators will build upon existing knowledge as we progressively understand things better. Eventually, this knowledge will also shape the formal and informal institutions and our way of life.

For this reason, open-mindedness, integrity and the moral responsibility to create value (useful knowledge) for society are the three primary principles that an investigator must abide by. These moral codes are implicit in the social contract of an investigator besides his/her competence, passion and determination as individual attributes. This means conflicts of interest must be avoided at all costs.

In a knowledge society, science itself remains innocent but some scientists can be ruthlessly destructive because they can be bought/co-opted or used to serve vested interests.

History has a long record of genocides, wars, discrimination, eugenics, bad policies, bad medicines etc. etc. which have wrought pain on society in the name of pseudoscience packaged as science or science gone bad and supported by the powers that be. This explains why there are still increasing levels of questionable research practices (QRP). New investigators must be taught earlier on that this is mostly a calling and not a place to get rich or famous. Those two are just unintended outcomes of both great investigation and serendipity.This question is both timely and relevant in times of fake news, post truth, outright lies etc. Thanks.

thanks for your answer dear Frederik Ahen

thanks for your answer dear Hussin Jose Hejase

You're most welcome, Catia.

Dear Catia,

What follows is a short answer to your question. For the sake of simpicity, I think that there are two main principles we should teach new researchers, one is intellectual, the other is ethical or moral. In intellectual terms, we should do our best to teach students to look for the unknown and raise, say, irritating questions, that is, questions whose answer leads us to a better knowledge of the unkown and advances knowledge. In ethical terms, we should teach students to not fall prey to plagiarism and that they should get informed consent from pariticipants or their representives who participate in their research. In short, we should teach students to pursue, the true, the good and the beautiful. Note that the true, the good, and the beautiful are universal categories regarding of how they are understood at different times and places.

Regards,

Orlando

Research, especially when it is supported with large sums of money, is not free of expectations, especially expectations of the institution and the donors. It is morally valuable to remain beyond these expectations and to remain true to oneself and have the courage to say that such expectations cannot be met. This means publishing results in specific individual cases that are contrary to general expectations. Special problems arise to remain true to this principle if the research object is connected with moral aspects or violates a certain research paradigm - or the prevailing school opinion.

Research is a process of establishing truth to built knowledge or solve problems. The professional and moral imperative in this endeavour is only to be truthful and passionate to solve problems.

"basic moral principle of an ivestigator", the realm answer is "money power and selfish". The rest is just nice words simply words to justify our ethical conception...as "investigators". A "scientist" becomes a simple working force of any system upon position, money and gifts......Too many the exemples.

Ethical sense of Research

Imagination may be basic moral of investigator as it reinforced scientific temper in researchers

Professionalism

Unbiased and

Objectivity

What should be the basic moral principle of an investigator?

Agreed with the points shared by previous researchers / scholars. Also want to add:

Totally agree with all the comments, it is important for researchers to comply with the basic principles of morality, loyalty and above all the truth, our research can change the world in many ways

Morality , loyality and truth. Great words Catia, but I do not see the real moral version and the truth. Certain, it is nice to hope but sciences first of all need to be concrete and precise. Who controls money controls scientific progress. This is the truth.

Prosperity in society influenced by scientific values at large

Prosperity..... in society influenced by slavery, immigration, cheap working forces, wars and colonization (modern or ord fashion).

The basic moral principle of an investigator is truth.

One of the best characteristics is to be scientifically honest and recognize the work of previous researchers.

Be honest and be ethical.

Non maleficence, do no harm

Hello,

I agree with all of the contributions. But we need virtue and an ethic of care as well.

Kerre

Authentic, Independent [as other colleagues insisted on], helpful and ready to go out of the way [in a positive sense] to inform and share knowledge.

Designing appropriate research questions which realise the aim or purpose of the research. Confidentiality of data, ensuring that the data is trustworthy e.g. through triangulation, ensuring that the people being interviewed know all about the project before they participate and providing people people to withdraw their data before analysis begins. Informing participants of the research outcomes.

Aristotle's Nichomachean Ethics is worthwhile reading. The environment and the researcher should be ethical. Eudaimonia.

Kerre

highly ethical, sense of creativity, critical thinking, honesty, perseverance are some of the principles that a new researcher should embrace.

The prime moral responsibility investigator is his research may not sacrifice any living subject life unnecessarily.

Regards

Dr. Kamath Madhusudhana

The golden rule and the Kantian (categorial) imperative do apply. In addition,

curricula, didactics and methods should draw a clear line between practical knowledge that works and between theoretical assumptions. It is vital to avoid by any means the total economization, the learning factory and the assembly line.

As per my opinion the principles we should teach new researcher, here I am mentioning few points are take consideration during advise the new researchers such as, to encourage contact between research faculty, to develop cooperation among researchers, to encourage active learning, to prompt feedback, to emphasize time on task, to respect diverse talents and to be honestly and ethically carry out research.

Principles of research ethics

1) Discuss intellectual property frankly

2) Be conscious of multiple roles

3) Follow informed-consent rules

4) Respect confidentiality and privacy

5) Tap into ethics resources

Best Regards @Catia Cillóniz

Be a believer in the benefits of the outcomes of the research

I think, the points of Osama Rahil we should notice. Fairness is the basic attitude we should show mutually.

I think that it will concern the common good without influence of stakeholders.

Researchers who researchers who contribute to an ideal of humanity.

regards, jk

I think the basic moral principle of an investigator is not to self plagiarise once own work too much.

The golden rule is honesty: honesty in the experimentation, honesty in the reporting