Thinking about research ethics in the social sciences and humanities from a nonmaleficence perspective

Abstract

The article proposes to use nonmaleficence as a guide to
evaluate harm when it comes to research in social sciences and humanities, where it commonly presents as social harm. One of the main criticisms of the ethical principles for research is related to obtaining informed consent. Although this debate is wide-ranging, the discussion here posed focuses on placing on researchers the possibility of deciding on the participation of people in a study, under the premise of avoiding causing harm to others and based on basic criteria for coexistence. From the perspective of ethics of minimums, nonmaleficence represents an ethical principle that allows this assessment to be carried out when dealing with social groups. In this regard, we seek to find minimum guidelines to avoid discrimination or social stigmatization that may be reproduced or reinforced by a research project; in order to do this, we should question ourselves about how we approach the subject of study in terms of the adopted position. The assessment of this position does not come from a personal stance, but rather from a prudential one, which is why we suggest the review of ethnocentric biases based on guidelines such as welfare and well-being, as
well as the possibility of generating alternative interpretations in the analyses carried out. Therefore, both the approach and the procedures would be guided by prudence, inviting to think beyond cultural determinisms.