Anas’ research methods and ethical concerns

Since the release of Anas’ latest work about the alleged corrupt Ghanaian judges, there are concerns about his methods, and whether they meet ethical standards in the field of research.

However, it’s our considered opinion that those who are discrediting Anas’ work because they do not comprehend his method should stop and think deep for the right answers.

There are two grandeur methods a typical researcher like Anas is opened to: qualitative and quantitative methods. Each of these methods has its pros and cons. A researcher who uses a qualitative method in his research will be able to give detail and in-depth explanation of his findings as compared to the quantitative method which is in the form of statistics, numbers often giving sweeping generation. Anas has chosen the former for his many investigations.

To get his research underway, Anas uses case studies to determine popular phenomenon in the public domain. He then adopts ethnographic research which relies on such popular techniques as participant observation, video diaries, photographs, contextual interviews, and analysis of artifacts such as devices, tools or paper forms that might be used as part of a persons’ job.

Participant observation is one of the most expensive techniques in the field of research because of the threat it promises researchers. Observation can take place anywhere: home, office, or in leisure environments.

People and their families could be studied anytime. Data collection spans several hours of following. In one of Anas’ work, he posed as a mad man to go unnoticed.

In the case of the alleged corrupt Ghanaian judges, Anas assumed a brother of a criminal who wants the best for his relative. This was highly played in his investigation about the Ghanaian judges.

The ethnographic research gives us rich insight into the real life situation about persons in the society—in this case about alleged corrupt Ghanaian judges. Upholding ethics in a research of this kind is important for researchers.

We see ethics as norms about conduct that show the boundary between the acceptable and the unacceptable. David B. Resnik, J.D., Ph.D. delivered, “Ethical norms are so ubiquitous that one might be tempted to regard them as simple commonsense.”

Like the Golden Rule, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”, the field of research has with it a bag full of moral codes the must be adhered to by the researcher. Resnik continued, “One may also define ethics as a method, procedure, or perspective for deciding how to act and for analyzing complex problems and issues.”

Now like any moral codes, there are several reasons a researcher must uphold ethical norms in his research. Ethical norms help to advance research and discourage issues of falsification, fabrication, and misrepresentation of research data to promote only the truth. These norms also help to build public support for the researcher’s work. This explains why many institutions both local and international are willing to collaborate with Anas in his investigations. Issues of ethical norms are critical and delicate to research findings, and any researcher who fails to work according to them does so at his own risk.

In 2004 Dr. Hwang Woo Suk announced to the world that he had created human embryonic stem cells through cloning.

In the following year 2005, he announced another breakthroughs and published them. He soon became a celebrity in the eyes of the world that in 2004 Times Magazine listed him as part of its annual “People Who Mattered”. What many scientists had been willing to do for so many years with little success, Dr. Hwang has been able to achieve.

The South Korean President, Roh Moo-hyun described him as a national hero and the Ministry of Science and Technology in Korea gave him the title “Supreme Scientist.” However, on January 10, 2006, a panel that was set to investigate allegations of his unethical standards announced their conclusion: Dr. Hwang had fabricated his popular stem cell research.

Other unethical issues also cropped up ruining what appeared a successful career of Dr. Hwang. Don’t compromise with ethical standards.

A careful research on Anas’ method reveals his respect for ethical norms in his work such as: honesty, objectivity, integrity, carefulness, openness, and respect for intellectual property, confidentiality, responsible publication, responsible mentoring, non-discrimination, legality, competence and social responsibility. To uphold all these norms among others, the research must be attentive to detail and Anas has this quality in abundance inside of him.

Anas is on record to be the second man in the world to conduct such an extensive research about a social phenomenon. The first of such work was carried out in California titled “Planned Parenthood” by Pro-Life groups which has exposed corrupt judges, police departments and state attorney’s involvement in a trade of human parts in America. As expected California state government is doing everything to bury this case as though it never happened.

We will be the first to remark that though Anas’ work seemed flawless, they cannot be 100% full proof. And no research work can claim omniscience. There are other things Anas needs to focus his attention on so as to have the aura of an ethical researcher. Such include his need to protect human subjects including his team members in his research.

In a research, it’s important one minimizes harms and risks to human subjects and team members. He needs to be particular of human dignity and rights, privacy, and autonomy, and take special care of vulnerable populations.

Authors:

Kwabena Brako-Powers, Author (GIJ)

Iris Akwetey, Human Activist/Author (USA)