Y09W38VC Theme Words — Scientific ethics

Voluntary and informed agreement given freely, especially for something to be done to or involving oneself.

Word family: consent (v.), consensual (adj.)

Example: The cornerstone of ethical research is informed consent — participants must understand what they are agreeing to.

Synonyms: agreement, permission, approval

Collocations: informed consent, obtain consent, without consent

A conclusion or consequence that can be drawn from something, even if it is not explicitly stated; also the potential effect of something.

Word family: imply (v.), implicit (adj.)

Example: The implications of genetic research for privacy, insurance and identity are profound and must be carefully regulated.

Synonyms: consequence, significance, meaning

Collocations: broader implications, ethical implications, have implications

To control, manage or govern something according to rules or standards.

Word family: regulation (n.), regulatory (adj.)

Example: Governments must act swiftly to regulate the development of artificial intelligence before its risks become irreversible.

Synonyms: control, govern, manage

Collocations: regulate the industry, heavily regulated, regulate access

To recognise or admit that something is true or exists; to show appreciation for something.

Word family: acknowledgement (n.)

Example: The researcher acknowledged the limitations of the study in her conclusion, strengthening rather than undermining her credibility.

Synonyms: recognise, admit, concede

Collocations: acknowledge the limitations, acknowledge the contribution, acknowledge that

To identify something as having been encountered before; to acknowledge officially or formally.

Word family: recognition (n.), recognised (adj.)

Example: International law recognises the rights of research participants to withdraw consent at any stage of the process.

Synonyms: identify, acknowledge, accept

Collocations: recognise the need, widely recognised, recognise the importance

To reluctantly admit that something is true or valid, especially when it works against one's own argument.

Word family: concession (n.)

Example: A strong academic argument concedes the most compelling aspects of the opposing view before explaining why they are insufficient.

Synonyms: admit, grant, acknowledge

Collocations: concede the point, concede that, reluctantly concede

To confess or acknowledge something, especially something unflattering or problematic.

Word family: admission (n.)

Example: The study admitted a significant methodological weakness: the control group was too small to produce statistically reliable results.

Synonyms: acknowledge, concede, confess

Collocations: admit the limitation, admit the error, admit that

To recognise as valid, true or appropriate; to receive or agree to something.

Word family: acceptance (n.), acceptable (adj.)

Example: The scientific community gradually accepted the theory of plate tectonics after decades of accumulating evidence.

Synonyms: recognise, agree to, receive

Collocations: accept the findings, widely accepted, accept responsibility

Used in academic writing to attribute a concession or admission to a named writer or source.

Example: X acknowledges that the methodology is imperfect but argues that the scale of the evidence is nonetheless sufficient to draw conclusions.

Synonyms: X concedes that, X admits that, X recognises that

Collocations: X acknowledges that while, X explicitly acknowledges, X acknowledges the difficulty