Ankara University School of Medicine Basic Science Research Assistants' Opinions about Research and Publication Ethics Challenges and Self-Sufficiency

Abstract

INTRODUCTION[|]Post-graduate education constitutes the most important training process that people who will make scientific studies and practice in a certain area or who will grow up as academicians gain proficiency in specialization and scientific research and publication in the field of their study. It is expected young researchers to conduct scientific studies in accordance with general ethical principles that the scientific community has. Therefore research assistants who are obliged to act in scientific responsibility can be found in attitudes and behaviors that may be problematic in terms of research and publishing, depending on various reasons, especially the lack of information. In this study, the opinions of the research staff working in the basic science branches of the Ankara University Faculty of Medicine will be evaluated regarding their self-sufficiency in terms of research and publication ethics. [¤]METHODS[|]In our research, a qualitative study was carried out by conducting in-depth interviews through a semi-structured questionnaire. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with a total of 10 research assistants working in the basic science branches of the Ankara University Faculty of Medicine. The data gained from the interviews was converted to raw logs and analyzed thematically. [¤]RESULTS[|]Themes and main themes was composed by the data obtained from the interviews. The revealed themes and main themes related with the topic of the research were considered under 'The Purpose of Scientific Research", "Research Management", "Communication and Relations in Research", "Qualifications of the researcher" contexts. In our study, we have come to prominent findings especially, conducting research for personal benefit, the negative effects of the interpersonal hierarchy on the research process, to be included in studies they do not want to, the distribution of tasks related to research and the clarification of article name rankings. [¤]DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION[|]The results of the study indicate that the students who are studying at the graduate level do not have sufficient knowledge about research and publishing. This situation has many important components. One such component is that the majority of young academics who are continuing their education are not adequately guided by experienced researchers during the planning, execution and reporting phases of a scientific research. Another one is the justification of the conduction of scientific researches. It is clear that young academics are influenced by the university's academic traditions and values. For this reason, their motivations for conducting scientific research are influenced positively or negatively by the academic production climate they are in. It is possible to embrace universal scientific values to carry out scientific studies that will not be doubtful in terms of research and publication ethics. Therefore, it may be beneficial to review their proficiency in research and publishing ethics, not only for researchers, who are an important part of academic life, but also for other faculty members.[¤]

Keywords

• Research assistant
• research and publication ethics
• self-sufficiency