Indian Journal of Information Sources and Services (IJISS)
Research Ethics for Twenty-First Century LIS Professionals
Author : Khaiser Jahan Begum and Chikku BalachandranVolume 9 No.3 July-December 2019 pp 12-16
Abstract
Research in several disciplines is gaining importance in the 21st century. In India, agencies like University Grant Commission (UGC) assessing the performance of the faculty based on the Academic Performance Index (API). Irrespective of the aptitude, ability and interest in research, aspiring researchers are pushing themselves to publish research papers and also are aiming to do Ph.D. Therefore there is sudden proliferation in number of journal publications and Ph.Ds. But the most important part of maintaining international standards in publishing research papers and doing Ph.D. is not taken seriously. In fact, researchers are failing to maintain good research standards and ethics in research. This has resulted in misconduct both at individual level and at the organisational level. There are guidelines available for doing good research. If these guidelines are followed systematically along with general ethical principles, the research performance will be good and will result in avoiding data falsification, fabrication and redundant publications. Keeping these points in mind the authors have elaborately discussed research ethics for 21st century in general and LIS professional in particular.
Keywords
Ethics Literacy, Information Ethics, Fraudulent Research, Academic Honesty, Plagiarism, Academic Performance Index: Bad Research, Information Ethics
Full Text:
References
[1] Buchanan, E. A. (2004). Ethics in Library and Information Science: What Are We Teaching? Journal of Information Ethics, 13(1), 51–60.
[2] Wilkinson, L. (2014). Principalism and the Ethics of Librarianship. Reference Librarian, 55(1), 1–25.
[3] Barsh, A., & Lisewski, A. (2008). Library Managers and Ethical Leadership: A Survey of Current Practices from the Perspective of Business Ethics. Journal of Library Administration, 47(3,4), 27–37.
[4] Fallis, D. (2007). Information ethics for twenty-first century library professionals. Library Hi Tech, 25(1), 23–36.
[5] Lankes, R. D. (2008). The Ethics of Participatory Librarianship. Journal of Library Administration, 47(3,4), 233–241.
[6] Schöpfel, J. (2016). Open Access, Privacy, and Human Rights: A Case Study on Ethics in Library and Information Sciences Education. Advances in Librarianship, 41, 349–371.
[7] Gerolami, N. (2005). Freedom or micro-fascisms: debates in ethics & information studies. Progressive Librarian, (25), 76–85.
[8] Cope, J. (2012). Librarianship as Intellectual Craft: The Ethics of Classification in the Realms of Leisure and Waged Labor. Knowledge Organization, 39(5), 356–362.
[9] Carlin, A. P. (2003). Disciplinary debates and bases of interdisciplinary studies: The place of research ethics in library and information science. Library & Information Science Research, 25(1), 3.
[10] Burke, M., Davis, C., Hernon, P., & Nicholls, P. (1996). Fraud and misconduct in library and information science research. Library & Information Science Research, 17(3), 199–206.
[11] Shachaf, P. (2005). A global perspective on library association codes of ethics. Library & Information Science Research (07408188), 27(4), 513–533.
[12] Munigal, A. (2018). Suggested code of ethics and professional conduct for library and information science professionals in India. Annals of Library & Information Studies, 65(1), 70–76.
[13] Eldredge, J., & Petree, L. (2009). The Research Mentor. Hypothesis: Journal of the Research Section of MLA, 21(2), 8–11.
[14] Ndwandwe, S. C., Ocholla, D. N., & Dube, L. (2009). Information Ethics Education in Library and Information Science Departments and Schools in South Africa. Mousaion, 27(2), 75–88.
[15] Miller, W. (2006). Enhancing Students’ Academic Honesty and Respect for Research. Library Issues, 26(5), 1–3.
[16] Dutta, Nandana(n.d).Research Ethics in India. eSSH
[17] Sturgeon, Roy L. (2007). Laying down the Law: ALA’s Ethics codes. American Libraries.38(10), 56-57
[18] Resnik, B. (2011). What is Ethics in Research and Why is it Important. National Institute of Environmental Health.
[19] Shamoo, Adil E., Resnik, & David, B. (2009). Responsible conduct of Research. Ed.2.Oxford University Press.
[20] Menezes, et al., (2014). Publication Ethics. Medico- Legal Journal. 82(4), 155-158.