The University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) conducted a live webinar in Ethics in Social Sciences as part of the Research Conversations: Ethics Series 2021 last 25 March 2022. The event featured Dr. Meita Dhamayanti, dr., Sp.A(K)., M. Kes, Professor and Coordinator for the Doctoral Program of the Faculty of Medicine, and former Chair of Research Ethics Committee of the Universitas Padjadjaran as the resource speaker. Assoc. Prof. Myra D. Oruga, Associate Professor and Assistant to the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs for Research) served as the host of the event.
Dr. Dhamayanti discussed the general ethics in social sciences, as well as the general principles of ethics research. She also shared some insights about the Belmont Report, and presented how to gather informed consent and an overview of a research study’s data collection process, as well as the pertinent principles for social science research.
“The priority is confidentiality,” stated Dr. Dhamayanti when she was asked about the ethics in conducting social sciences research online—especially today that most, if not all, has transitioned to online learning due to the pandemic and for universities like UPOU that teaches via online distance learning mode. She further shared that anonymity of any respondent must be respected.
Moving forward, Dr. Dhamayanti advocates to include ethics in research in the curriculum. This is to help scholars realize the importance of ethics in conducting research. “It [ethics in social science research] seems easy but difficult,” she concluded.
The live online event was attended by 146 participants who joined via Zoom, Facebook Live and UPOU Networks Live. The recorded event can be viewed on UPOU Networks – Multimedia Center Facebook Page and on https://networks.upou.edu.ph.
Sustainable Development Goals
Written by Alessa Shainne Hostalero
Edited by Myra C. Almodiel and Anna Canas-Llamas