Research with a Conscience Ethics, Integrity and Responsibilities

About The Book

This is a textbook on research and publication ethics for the Indian higher-education and research system. It is intended for MBA, M.Com, MA, MSc, M.Tech and PhD programmes, for the doctoral coursework in Research and Publication Ethics, and for faculty development programmes on research integrity.

The book has fourteen chapters in six parts. Part I (Chapters 1 and 2) lays philosophical foundations: what counts as knowledge, how evidence relates to method, and how ethical theories help in reasoning about hard cases. Part II (Chapters 3 to 5) covers research ethics and responsible conduct, including work with human participants and the ethics of data. Part III (Chapters 6 and 7) deals with research misconduct and plagiarism. Part IV (Chapters 8 to 10) addresses publication ethics, authorship, conflicts of interest, peer review and editorial decisions. Part V (Chapters 11 and 12) examines responsible publishing today: open access, predatory and cloned journals, research metrics and artificial intelligence. Part VI (Chapters 13 and 14) turns to institutions and to practice, ending with an ethical walk through the whole research journey.

Each chapter opens with learning objectives and a short scenario, develops its argument in numbered sections, discusses the Indian context and recent developments, and closes with a summary, key terms, review and analytical questions, a case study, discussion questions and an application exercise. Sixteen case studies, thirty-four tables, sixteen figures and eleven practical tools are distributed through the book. A final printable checklist, a glossary, a consolidated reference list in APA 7th edition style and a subject index complete the volume.
The book assumes no prior study of philosophy. It does assume that the reader is doing, or preparing to do, research.

About The Author

Mr Namit Bhatnagar is an Assistant Professor at DBS Global University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand. His academic interests span finance, accounting, business analytics, and research methodology, with a focus on evidence-based analysis and responsible academic practice. He is particularly interested in the ethical dimensions of research, scholarly communication, data integrity, and the responsible application of analytical tools in academic inquiry. Through his teaching and research, he seeks to promote critical thinking, methodological rigour, intellectual honesty, and transparency in knowledge creation. His contribution to this textbook reflects his commitment to strengthening research awareness and encouraging responsible conduct among students, doctoral scholars, and emerging researchers in Indian higher education.

Prof. (Dr.) Seema M. Somani is Head of the Department of Commerce and Accountancy at Pillai College of Arts, Commerce & Science (Empowered Autonomous), New Panvel, Maharashtra. A gold medallist in M.Com., she holds a Ph.D. in Commerce and an MBA in Human Resources, and is SET-qualified. She brings more than two decades of undergraduate and postgraduate teaching experience and has 80 national and international publications to her name. She is also a recognised Ph.D. guide at the University of Mumbai, where five scholars have earned their doctorates under her supervision.Prof. Somani’s work extends well beyond the classroom. She is a member of the University of Mumbai’s Ad-hoc Board of Studies in BMS and has chaired the Board of Studies in Commerce at SNDT Women’s University. She also regularly serves as the Vice-Chancellor’s nominee on faculty selection and promotion committees. She has served as a judge at the Avishkar Research Convention for ten consecutive years, and she trains faculty and scholars in research methodology, including AI-assisted methods. One purpose runs through every role she takes on: helping others grow as learners, researchers and teachers.

Dr. Yogita Madhukar Patil is an academician, researcher, and author specializing in Accounting, Finance, Financial Management, and Commerce. With over nine years of academic experience, she combines scholarly inquiry with pedagogical innovation and a commitment to advancing knowledge through research and publication. Her academic qualifications include M.Com., SET, M.Phil., B.Ed., and a Ph.D. in Commerce.
Her research contributions include more than 20 research papers and three patents, reflecting her engagement with knowledge creation, applied research, and intellectual property development. As an accomplished author of over 20 books, she contributes to academic literature and knowledge dissemination across relevant domains. Her scholarly interests encompass accounting practices, financial analysis, management accounting, financial decision-making, and contemporary developments in commerce and finance.
Dr. Patil has completed more than 10 NPTEL courses and earned recognition as an NPTEL Discipline Star, demonstrating sustained commitment to structured, discipline-specific learning and professional development. She believes that research, innovation, and continuous learning are essential to strengthening academic practice and addressing emerging challenges in business and education.
Through her research, publications, and academic engagement, she seeks to foster analytical thinking, evidence-based decision-making, and research-oriented learning among students and fellow scholars. Her professional vision centres on bridging theoretical foundations with practical applications while contributing to the evolving body of knowledge in commerce, accounting, and finance.