Ethics of Data Analysis

Abstract

Research is the process of methodically gathering and analyzing new information on a topic, in order to generate more reliable knowledge about the world. The data that is gathered in research is often not accessible to other people reading the final reports and is only rarely reviewed by anyone else even when it is available. Because most readers of research reports do not have the time or even access to review the raw data from the research themselves, they place their trust in the authors of the report that the results refer to accurate data from research that truly took place as described. Thus the knowledge gained and shared from research depends critically on a system of social trust in the veracity of the data and results. So the ethics of data analysis concerns two major forms of research misconduct – fabrication of data or results and falsification of data or results – as well as the minor practical issue of preserving the data for future reexamination.