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An Analysis of Research Ethical Practices Information on Universities’ Websites in Developing and Developed Countries

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Abstract

Prior researches have highlighted challenges and variations arising from the requirements of research ethics committees and ethics governance systems across diverse research fields. This emphasizes the need to investigate how universities convey and implement research ethical practices. Research ethics plays a pivotal role in guiding the integration of ethical principles throughout all stages of research starting from its inception and planning to its completion and the dissemination of results. These practices encompass a range of considerations, reviews, guidelines, and processes aimed at safeguarding the rights, dignity, health, safety, and privacy of research participants. Using the content analysis technique, this paper aims to analyse research ethical practices information on universities’ websites from three developed countries and developing countries respectively using the isomorphism conception. The findings suggest that the coercive, normative, and mimetic isomorphic pressures explain the research ethics governance practices. The ethical practices information was disclosed more on university websites of the developed countries. Suggestions to improve the university’s research ethics governance system for the post-COVID-19 era were provided in the paper.

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No funding was required for preparation or submission of this manuscript. The submission funding was secured through an institution-based education fund by the senior lead authors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Accountancy, Universiti Teknologi MARA Cawangan Sarawak, Sarawak, Malaysia

    Corina Joseph & Saifulrizan Norizan

  2. Faculty of Economy and Business, Sebelas Maret University, Surakarta, Indonesia

    Rahmawati

Authors
  1. Corina Joseph
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  2. Saifulrizan Norizan
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  3. Rahmawati
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Contributions

CJ authored the primary draft and subsequent edited versions of the manuscript, created the data and figures, interpreted the data and provided significant idea contribution to the manuscript. R and SN significant edits of the manuscript, supported data interpretation and provided significant contribution of ideas. CJ and R were the main senior authors, provided the primary idea for the manuscript, and provided significant idea contribution/ edits for the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Saifulrizan Norizan.

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Joseph, C., Norizan, S. & Rahmawati An Analysis of Research Ethical Practices Information on Universities’ Websites in Developing and Developed Countries. J Acad Ethics (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10805-023-09496-2

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