How do cancer research scientists deal with machines and consumables? Exploring research ethics from an inductive ethnographic perspective

Abstract This paper started from an inductive ethnography conducted within a cancer research lab in Belgium. The primary objective was to explore how researchers make decisions and rationalize their scientific practices. Through data collected from participant observation, interviews, and analysis o...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Salaheddine Mnasri, Fadi Jaber
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer Nature 2024-03-01
Series:Humanities & Social Sciences Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-024-02920-x
_version_ 1797259430266404864
author Salaheddine Mnasri
Fadi Jaber
author_facet Salaheddine Mnasri
Fadi Jaber
author_sort Salaheddine Mnasri
collection DOAJ
description Abstract This paper started from an inductive ethnography conducted within a cancer research lab in Belgium. The primary objective was to explore how researchers make decisions and rationalize their scientific practices. Through data collected from participant observation, interviews, and analysis of research protocols, the study exposes serious knowledge gaps that compromise research ethics. Specifically, the findings reveal the scientists’ need for more understanding of the validity of their lab machines and the readymade consumables procured from external providers. Moreover, without questioning this dependency, our participants (scientists) rely heavily on machines and consumables for almost all their research protocols. The findings suggest that cancer researchers place unjustifiable trust in the lab’s machines and the external providers’ reliability; this compromises the following three fundamental ethical principles: research integrity, responsible conduct, and the responsibility of using resources and technologies.
first_indexed 2024-04-24T23:09:18Z
format Article
id doaj.art-74c263ab8fcb472ab0cace1f2a93f393
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2662-9992
language English
last_indexed 2024-04-24T23:09:18Z
publishDate 2024-03-01
publisher Springer Nature
record_format Article
series Humanities & Social Sciences Communications
spelling doaj.art-74c263ab8fcb472ab0cace1f2a93f3932024-03-17T12:18:47ZengSpringer NatureHumanities & Social Sciences Communications2662-99922024-03-011111710.1057/s41599-024-02920-xHow do cancer research scientists deal with machines and consumables? Exploring research ethics from an inductive ethnographic perspectiveSalaheddine Mnasri0Fadi Jaber1Liberal Arts Department, The American University of the Middle EastLiberal Arts Department, The American University of the Middle EastAbstract This paper started from an inductive ethnography conducted within a cancer research lab in Belgium. The primary objective was to explore how researchers make decisions and rationalize their scientific practices. Through data collected from participant observation, interviews, and analysis of research protocols, the study exposes serious knowledge gaps that compromise research ethics. Specifically, the findings reveal the scientists’ need for more understanding of the validity of their lab machines and the readymade consumables procured from external providers. Moreover, without questioning this dependency, our participants (scientists) rely heavily on machines and consumables for almost all their research protocols. The findings suggest that cancer researchers place unjustifiable trust in the lab’s machines and the external providers’ reliability; this compromises the following three fundamental ethical principles: research integrity, responsible conduct, and the responsibility of using resources and technologies.https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-024-02920-x
spellingShingle Salaheddine Mnasri
Fadi Jaber
How do cancer research scientists deal with machines and consumables? Exploring research ethics from an inductive ethnographic perspective
Humanities & Social Sciences Communications
title How do cancer research scientists deal with machines and consumables? Exploring research ethics from an inductive ethnographic perspective
title_full How do cancer research scientists deal with machines and consumables? Exploring research ethics from an inductive ethnographic perspective
title_fullStr How do cancer research scientists deal with machines and consumables? Exploring research ethics from an inductive ethnographic perspective
title_full_unstemmed How do cancer research scientists deal with machines and consumables? Exploring research ethics from an inductive ethnographic perspective
title_short How do cancer research scientists deal with machines and consumables? Exploring research ethics from an inductive ethnographic perspective
title_sort how do cancer research scientists deal with machines and consumables exploring research ethics from an inductive ethnographic perspective
url https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-024-02920-x
work_keys_str_mv AT salaheddinemnasri howdocancerresearchscientistsdealwithmachinesandconsumablesexploringresearchethicsfromaninductiveethnographicperspective
AT fadijaber howdocancerresearchscientistsdealwithmachinesandconsumablesexploringresearchethicsfromaninductiveethnographicperspective