Ethical Research Writing

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Professor Peterson

ENGL 235

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Ethical Research Writing

Ethical research writing is the critical considerations of standards or rules to distinguish between

acceptable and unacceptable behavior when composing research documents(Resnik). Research

that is ethical requires the writer to consider aspects of information gathered, such as the place of

the source, the author’s qualifications, and factual information from sources when determining

its ethical credibility. The most logical way to evaluate the information encountered in the

research process of a document is to design a plan that will contribute to ethical research

documentation.

The first item is conducting research for information from the right places to get reliable

information. Libraries are a great source for information that provide books and publications for

the public to access and reference. Libraries also have librarians that are trained and educated to

help find information and will assist people towards useful and credible sources inside the library

or on their online database. Schools and universities also have subscriptions and organizations to

databases and academic journals that also have credible information. Lastly, websites are also a

place to look for information, but should be approached with caution. Articles from websites can

be beneficial and nonbeneficial when researching. Articles and information posed from websites

can be inaccurate and outdated. However, information from websites can also support the

research topic and be credible. Referencing different places and asking educated people is the

foundation to finding credible information.

Next, when looking at sources while researching, doing a background research on the author(s)

qualification is essential for credible information. Checking the educational background of the

authors will help the reader understand if the author’s education in the subject area is appropriate

and reliable for the information they published. Other writings posted by the author will also

contribute to qualifications of the author because, if they have a vast understanding and array of

publication around subject area, the author is more knowledgeable. Then, checking if the

information published in the book, article, and website matches their field of expertise can

establish if the author’s information is reliable(Author’s Credentials). Making sure the author is

qualified to cite information from is essential when conducting research.

Lastly, when gathering information when researching, making sure the accuracy of the

information in the source is correct is crucial to providing credible information. Publications in

libraries and school databases will have accurate and reliable information, especially if a

historian or librarian recommends the book or article. Websites however need to be properly

examined for the accuracy of the text. Looking at the websites domain, using sites that use .gov

and .edu are almost always reliable. Another way to check the accuracy of the website is

checking its copyrighted date; information that is outdated at times could be not accurate. Lastly,

checking where the site gets its information from is important. Websites like Wikipedia can be

edited by anyone, not needing a reliable source, and should not be used when looking for

credible information.

In conclusion, exercising ethical research writing is essential when creating a document.

Constructing a plan for finding credible information by going to places like the library,

examining the credentials of the author(s), and gathering information that is accurate can

ultimately strengthen and validate the facts being presented to the audience reading the

document.

Works Cited

"Author’s Credentials." Author’s Credentials. Online Learning Library Center, n.d. Web. 19

May 2017.

Resnik, David B. "What Is Ethics in Research & Why Is It Important?" National Institute of

Environmental Health Sciences. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1 Dec.

2015. Web. 18 May 2017.