scholarly journals A Code of Digital Ethics: laying the foundation for digital ethics in a science and technology company

AI & Society ◽  
2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah J. Becker ◽  
André T. Nemat ◽  
Simon Lucas ◽  
René M. Heinitz ◽  
Manfred Klevesath ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Research ◽  
Science And Technology ◽  
Advisory Panel ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Ethical Challenges ◽  
Full Spectrum ◽  
Business Decisions ◽  
Digital Ethics ◽  
Ethics Code ◽  
High Level

AbstractThe rapid and dynamic nature of digital transformation challenges companies that wish to develop and deploy novel digital technologies. Like other actors faced with this transformation, companies need to find robust ways to ethically guide their innovations and business decisions. Digital ethics has recently featured in a plethora of both practical corporate guidelines and compilations of high-level principles, but there remains a gap concerning the development of sound ethical guidance in specific business contexts. As a multinational science and technology company faced with a broad range of digital ventures and associated ethical challenges, Merck KGaA has laid the foundations for bridging this gap by developing a Code of Digital Ethics (CoDE) tailored for this context. Following a comprehensive analysis of existing digital ethics guidelines, we used a reconstructive social research approach to identify 20 relevant principles and derive a code designed as a multi-purpose tool. Versatility was prioritised by defining non-prescriptive guidelines that are open to different perspectives and thus well-suited for operationalisation for varied business purposes. We also chose a clear nested structure that highlights the relationships between five core and fifteen subsidiary principles as well as the different levels of reference—data and algorithmic systems—to which they apply. The CoDE will serve Merck KGaA and its new Digital Ethics Advisory Panel to guide ethical reflection, evaluation and decision-making across the full spectrum of digital developments encountered and undertaken by the company whilst also offering an opportunity to increase transparency for external partners, and thus trust.

scholarly journals Dyads in Dementia Care: An International Perspective on Research Challenges and Opportunities

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 757-757
Author(s):  
Marie Boltz ◽  
Karin Wolf-Ostermann ◽  
Katie Maslow
Keyword(s):  
Daily Practice ◽  
Well Being ◽  
International Perspective ◽  
Dementia Care ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Ethical Challenges ◽  
Research Strategies ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Informal Carers

Abstract Dementia poses a societal challenge that is life-changing not only for persons with dementia (PWD) but also for family members and friends (informal carers) directly involved in the care arrangement. Informal carers (IC) have typically poorer outcomes in terms of well-being, quality of life (QoL), health status, and use of health care resources. Dyads of PWD and IC living with dementia are characterized by strong reciprocal relationships and complex living contexts. Therefore, research should investigate home based dementia caregiving from a dyadic perspective to yield interventions that support the PWD, the IC, and the unit as a whole. However, it is an ongoing challenge to investigate dyadic needs and preferences in daily practice and develop effective interventions. Challenges are related to incomplete understanding of dyadic characteristics, attitudes and beliefs within the dyad, as well as how to adapt research approach to engage and retain the dyad in research. This international symposium will therefore address these issues. The first presentation will describe a typology of dementia care dyad characteristics and needs in Germany. The second presentation will examine the challenges and opportunities associated with recruiting and retaining dementia dyads. The third presentation will explore ethical challenges posed in communication with dyads and possible solutions for the researcher. The final presentation reports on the Meeting Centre Support Program as an example of an effective psychosocial intervention employing research strategies that transcend cultural barriers. Our discussant, Katie Maslow, will synthesize the presentations and lead a discussion of future directions for policy and practice.

scholarly journals How ethical challenges of covert observations can be met in practice

2021 ◽  
pp. 174701612110082
Author(s):  
Nicole Podschuweit
Keyword(s):  
Social Research ◽  
Role Playing ◽  
Great Distance ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Ethical Challenges ◽  
Research Subjects ◽  
Written Information ◽  
Ethical Debate ◽  
The People ◽  
Almost All

This paper aims to bring into the ethical debate on covert research two aspects that are neglected to date: the perspective of the research subjects and the special responsibility of investigators towards their observers. Both aspects are falling behind, especially in quantitative social research. From a methodological point of view, quantitative forms of covert observation involve a great distance between the researcher and the research subjects. When human observers are involved, the focus is usually on the reliable application of the measuring instrument. Therefore, herein, a quantitative study is used as an example to show how the protection needs of both the observed persons and the observers can be met in practice. The study involved 40 student observers who covertly captured everyday conversations in real-world settings (e.g. in cafés or trains) by a highly standardised observation scheme. The study suggests that the anonymity of the research subjects and their trust in the observers are crucial for their subsequent consent. However, many participants showed only little or even no interest in the written information they were provided. Further, this study strongly emphasises how mentally stressful covert observations are to the observers. Almost all observers were worried in advance that the people they were observing would prematurely blow their cover and confront them. Role-playing and in-depth discussions in teams are good strategies to alleviate such and other fears and to prepare student assistants well for their demanding work in the field.

scholarly journals Designing Science and Technology Park of Tabriz with Organic Architecture Approach, Inspired by Ants' Nest Algorithm

2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 134
Author(s):  
Zahra Ghannadian ◽  
Shahriyar Shaghagh
Keyword(s):  
Science And Technology ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Advanced Technology ◽  
Modern Culture ◽  
Science And Technology Parks ◽  
Technology Park ◽  
Technology Parks ◽  
Science And Technology Park ◽  
Organic Architecture ◽  
High Level

Establishment of every urban element in its appropriate position requires advanced technology and science from geographical and climatic point of view. This is accompanied and synchronous with modern culture born by supreme and high level of training and education in the society. In this regard, one of the main objectives of the architectures' union is to establish science and Technology Park with the aim of facilitating and accelerating science and technology transmission from university to the society and country.Tabriz city is considered as one of the most important academic and industrial cities in the country. Establishing science and technology parks can be effective in scientific, economic and social development of the country and province. Employing organic methods in architecture to use natural energies is an effective and useful method and its structure produces less pollution. Using philosophical and introductory issues and views of technology and establishing technology parks, present article proceeds on issues of organic architecture with new approach which is inspired by ants' nest algorithm and presents a new experience of architecture in the form of Science and Technology Park.

scholarly journals Ethical Regulation and Visual Methods: Making Visual Research Impossible or Developing Good Practice?

2012 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rose Wiles ◽  
Amanda Coffey ◽  
Judy Robison ◽  
Jon Prosser
Keyword(s):  
Detrimental Effect ◽  
Social Research ◽  
Good Practice ◽  
Ethical Review ◽  
Visual Methods ◽  
Research Practice ◽  
Ethical Challenges ◽  
Visual Research ◽  
Ethical Approval ◽  
The Uk

The ethical regulation of social research in the UK has been steadily increasing over the last decade or so and comprises a form of audit to which all researchers in Higher Education are subject. Concerns have been raised by social researchers using visual methods that such ethical scrutiny and regulation will place severe limitations on visual research developments and practice. This paper draws on a qualitative study of social researchers using visual methods in the UK. The study explored their views, the challenges they face and the practices they adopt in relation to processes of ethical review. Researchers reflected on the variety of strategies they adopted for managing the ethical approval process in relation to visual research. For some this meant explicitly ‘making the case’ for undertaking visual research, notwithstanding the ethical challenges, while for others it involved ‘normalising’ visual methods in ways which delimited the possible ethical dilemmas of visual approaches. Researchers only rarely identified significant barriers to conducting visual research from ethical approval processes, though skilful negotiation and actively managing the system was often required. Nevertheless, the climate of increasing ethical regulation is identified as having a potential detrimental effect on visual research practice and development, in some instances leading to subtle but significant self-censorship in the dissemination of findings.

scholarly journals Views on Differential Management in Safety Supervision of Construction Engineering

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Song Yinghua
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Rapid Development ◽  
Science And Technology ◽  
Deep Foundation ◽  
Safety Risk ◽  
Construction Engineering ◽  
Engineering Construction ◽  
Engineering Structure ◽  
High Level ◽  
Socialist Market

Given the advances in science and technology, rapid development of socialist market economy and continuous advance of urbanization, it is necessary to enlarge the scale of engineering construction. As the form of engineering structure becomes more complex, large-scale and high-level projects with deep foundation have appeared in engineering construction. For construction engineering, one of its technologies includes solving the difficulties in construction. It is required to deal with the safety risk of construction in time to guarantee safety construction, timely solve the management difficulties and contradictory problems of the project and ensure both the safety of engineering construction and the rationalization of the institution setting of the safety supervision on the project. 

scholarly journals Sino-Senegalese Cooperation: An Impulse to Innovative Growth Strategies for Senegalese SMEs

2015 ◽  
Vol 1 (5) ◽  
pp. 26-43
Author(s):  
Pape Alioune Diop
Keyword(s):  
Research Approach ◽  
Tax Rates ◽  
Growth Strategies ◽  
Competitive Strategies ◽  
Inductive Research ◽  
Medium Enterprise ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
High Level ◽  
High Degree ◽  
Strategic Networking

Since 2005, Senegal and China have developed painstaking efforts to flourish in win-win cooperation. However, the outcome of this collaboration is still under scrutiny due to several constraints in the small and medium enterprise (SME) sector. This study examined how the Sino-Senegalese cooperation could be a mean for Senegalese SMEs to grow their businesses through competitive strategies. The purpose of the study was to explore practical uses of growth strategies that may enable the Senegalese SMEs to develop sustainably. We adopted an inductive research approach by using descriptive and interpretive statistical analysis methods. We explored the data using SPSS 16.0. We can summarize the findings as follows: (1) Senegalese SMEs in China face problems related to unstable government regulations; high money transaction costs and high tax rates rather than access to finance; (2) there is a high degree of informality among SMEs in Guangzhou and Yiwu despite the relatively high level of education of the SME managers; (3) they can incorporate many growth strategies in the management of their businesses concerning the idiosyncratic pitfalls we have identified in the research. The Ansoff matrix, innovative strategic moves, and strategic networking have shown to be important tools for the Senegalese SMEs operating in China to grow steadily and sustainably. A way to grasp the originality of this thesis is that many of the major works published in this field mainly focus on China’s strategy for Africa. We find less evidence in the literature for China’s presence in a resource-independent economy like Senegal. And by doing so, they barely mention the negative impacts of this cooperation, nor do they alleviate the opportunities and strategies that can be put forward for SMEs growth.

Abstract TP379: “Build It and They Will Come”: How Comprehensive Stroke Certification Increases the Number of Transfers

Stroke ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 48 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Betty Robertson
Keyword(s):  
Research Question ◽  
Heart Association ◽  
Fold Increase ◽  
Joint Commission ◽  
Level Of Care ◽  
Stroke Patients ◽  
Full Spectrum ◽  
Specialized Care ◽  
High Level

Introduction/Background: Stroke is the leading cause of long-term disability affecting 800,000 people in the U.S. each year. In September 2012 The Joint Commission, in collaboration with the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Brain Attack Coalition, launched the Advanced Certification for Comprehensive Stroke Centers (CSCs). This new level of certification recognizes the significant resources in staff and training that comprehensive stroke centers must have to treat complex stroke. Certification is available only to comprehensive stroke centers in Joint Commission-accredited acute care hospitals. For CSC eligibility, there are numerous requirements and volumes that must be met. The most complicated stroke cases should be treated at the centers best equipped to provide specialized care that lead to better outcomes. Cedar-Sinai became the 4 th program in the nation to receive this prestigious certification. By providing expert care, numerous clinical trials, and high level treatment and procedures, we have become the center of choice for patients in need of a higher level of care. Research Question: Does comprehensive stroke certification lead to an increased number of transfers for higher level of care? Methods: Retrospective analysis of the number of acute strokes transferred to Cedars-Sinai between the first years of Comprehensive Stroke Certification in 2012 through 2015. Results: 2012 yielded a total transfer of 97 patients. In 2015 the volume had risen to 194, a 50% increase in 4 years. It is important to note that in 2014, 4 patients were transferred post TPA infusion (Drip and Ship), the gold standard for treatment of ischemic stroke. 2015 resulted in 25 such transfers, a six fold increase. Conclusion: The full spectrum and coordination of services that a CSC is equipped to provide contributes to increased access of specialized care for complex stroke patients. This in turn leads to better outcomes. This not only translates to delivery of timely optimal treatment for stroke patients, but also increases our expertise in delivery of this care.

Discovery Informatics

2011 ◽  
pp. 387-391
Author(s):  
William W. Agresti
Keyword(s):  
Science And Technology ◽  
Data Sources ◽  
Massive Data ◽  
Full Spectrum ◽  
Analytical Science ◽  
Research And Practice ◽  
Making Sense ◽  
New Information

Discovery informatics is an emerging methodology that brings together several threads of research and practice aimed at making sense out of massive data sources. It is defined as “the study and practice of employing the full spectrum of computing and analytical science and technology to the singular pursuit of discovering new information by identifying and validating patterns in data” (Agresti, 2003).

scholarly journals Navigating cross-cultural research: methodological and ethical considerations

2020 ◽  
Vol 287 (1935) ◽  
pp. 20201245
Author(s):  
Tanya Broesch ◽  
Alyssa N. Crittenden ◽  
Bret A. Beheim ◽  
Aaron D. Blackwell ◽  
John A. Bunce ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Community Involvement ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Ethical Challenges ◽  
Ethical Considerations ◽  
Social Scientists ◽  
Cultural Research ◽  
The Social ◽  
Cross Cultural Research ◽  
Increasing Demand

The intensifying pace of research based on cross-cultural studies in the social sciences necessitates a discussion of the unique challenges of multi-sited research. Given an increasing demand for social scientists to expand their data collection beyond WEIRD (Western, educated, industrialized, rich and democratic) populations, there is an urgent need for transdisciplinary conversations on the logistical, scientific and ethical considerations inherent to this type of scholarship. As a group of social scientists engaged in cross-cultural research in psychology and anthropology, we hope to guide prospective cross-cultural researchers through some of the complex scientific and ethical challenges involved in such work: (a) study site selection, (b) community involvement and (c) culturally appropriate research methods. We aim to shed light on some of the difficult ethical quandaries of this type of research. Our recommendation emphasizes a community-centred approach, in which the desires of the community regarding research approach and methodology, community involvement, results communication and distribution, and data sharing are held in the highest regard by the researchers. We argue that such considerations are central to scientific rigour and the foundation of the study of human behaviour.

scholarly journals What are the indicators of a successful business rescue in South Africa? Ask the business rescue practitioners

2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shaneen Conradie ◽  
Christiaan Lamprecht
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
The South ◽  
Consistent Manner ◽  
Actual Outcome ◽  
Successful Business ◽  
High Level ◽  
Delphi Research ◽  
Indicators Of Success

Background: Business rescue, in terms of Chapter 6 of the Companies Act No 71 of 2008, is still relatively new to the South African business environment. The need for a successful business rescue regime is beyond doubt. However, a consistent manner to measure the success of the regime has not been determined. Previous research into possible indicators of business rescue success was based on a review of international business rescue regimes that share the same underlying philosophy as the South African business rescue regime. Aim and Setting: This study extends previous research efforts by soliciting the opinions of 16 South African, senior business rescue practitioners on the indicators of business rescue success. Method: The researchers used a qualitative research approach. The Delphi research technique was used to gather qualitative and quantitative empirical data from business rescue practitioners. Results: The experts reached a high level of consensus on various indicators of a successful business rescue. Most notable are that business rescue should save as many jobs as possible and that the actual outcome should be compared to that estimated in the business rescue plan. A novel indicator of success is the business rescue points saved or rescued, when using the public interest score. Conclusion: The study makes a valuable contribution to the debate on what constitutes a successful business rescue by adding the considered opinion on indicators of success by one group of experts in the field of business rescue, namely senior business rescue practitioners.

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