A systematic review of empirical bioethics methodologies

Area of Science:

• Bioethics
• Philosophy of Science
• Research Methodology

Background:

• Empirical bioethics research increasingly uses empirical data for normative questions.
• A lack of consensus exists regarding appropriate methodologies in this field.
• This review critically examines published empirical bioethics methodologies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and discuss methodologies used in empirical bioethics.
• To identify commonalities and divergences in empirical bioethics research approaches.
• To provoke critical thinking on methodological choices in empirical bioethics.

Main Methods:

• Literature search of MedLine, Web of Science, and Google Scholar (2012-2013).
• Independent abstract review by two reviewers.
• Data extraction from included publications.

Main Results:

• 33 publications (32 papers, 1 book chapter) were included, detailing 32 distinct methodologies.
• The majority of methodologies (22) were classified as dialogical or consultative, representing opposing ends of a spectrum.
• Results highlight three key questions for empirical bioethics study design: justification of normative conclusions, the analytic process, and the nature of the sought conclusion.

Conclusions:

• Researchers must carefully consider how their analytical claims align with research objectives.
• Divergent meta-ethical and epistemological commitments underlie methodological approaches, reflecting broader philosophical disagreements.
• While heterogeneity presents challenges to bioethics legitimacy, it should be welcomed with explicit engagement on normative claims, justification, and coherence.