Which practice helps prevent ethical dilemmas in research?

Conducting thorough literature reviews is a fundamental practice in research that helps prevent ethical dilemmas. By reviewing existing literature, researchers can gain insights into previous findings, understand the context of their work, and identify gaps in knowledge that their research can address. This process ensures that the research is building upon established work rather than duplicating it unnecessarily, which can lead to ethical concerns about authorship and contribution.

Additionally, thorough literature reviews help researchers to critically assess and integrate ethical considerations that have been raised in past studies. They can identify any potential biases or ethical issues that have been encountered previously, guiding them to avoid similar pitfalls in their own research. Understanding the landscape of a given field allows researchers to make more informed decisions and fosters transparency and integrity in the research process.

This careful groundwork promotes responsible conduct by helping researchers frame their questions ethically, respect the contributions of others, and avoid situations that could lead to misuse of data, misrepresentation of findings, or infringement on intellectual property rights.