Research Ethics

Navigate research ethics requirements and responsible conduct across disciplines. Covers informed consent, institutional review, data privacy, authorship, and ethical decision-making for researchers.

Usage

Describe your research involving human subjects, sensitive data, or ethical considerations. The guide provides specific requirements, documentation templates, and decision frameworks for ethical research conduct.

Parameters

• Study type: Human subjects, Animal research, Data analysis, or Computational
• Population: General adults, Children, Vulnerable groups, or No human subjects
• Risk level: Minimal risk (exempt), Greater than minimal, or High risk
• Institution: University, Hospital, Independent, or Industry

Examples

1. IRB Application: Complete IRB protocol for a survey study — risk assessment, informed consent document, data security plan, recruitment materials, and debriefing procedures.

1. Informed Consent Document: Write a consent form that meets regulatory requirements while being readable — purpose, procedures, risks, benefits, confidentiality, and voluntary participation.

1. Data Ethics Assessment: Evaluate ethical implications of using social media data for research — public vs. private expectations, identifiability risks, platform ToS compliance, and community norms.

1. Authorship Dispute: Apply ICMJE guidelines to resolve authorship questions — defining substantial contributions, distinguishing authorship from acknowledgment, and documenting agreements early.

Guidelines

• Ethical principles follow the Belmont Report: Respect for Persons, Beneficence, Justice
• IRB review categories are explained: Exempt, Expedited, and Full Board with criteria for each
• Informed consent covers all required elements per 45 CFR 46 / Common Rule
• Vulnerable populations (children, prisoners, pregnant women, cognitively impaired) trigger additional protections
• Data management plans address collection, storage, sharing, and destruction timelines
• Confidentiality protections include de-identification, secure storage, and access controls
• Conflicts of interest are disclosed and managed with specific strategies
• Authorship follows ICMJE or CRediT framework with early agreements documented
• Research misconduct definitions cover fabrication, falsification, and plagiarism with reporting channels
• International research considers local regulations, cultural norms, and power dynamics