RESEARCH ETHICS AND INTEGRITY
Ensuring ethical conduct and integrity in research is fundamental to building public trust, safeguarding participants, and upholding the credibility of scientific outcomes. In the context of West African Research and Innovation Funding Councils, integrating ethical standards into funding calls, proposal evaluations, and project oversight is critical for maintaining accountability and international compliance. Module 5 introduces participants to the core principles of research ethics, including respect for persons, beneficence, and justice, as well as key issues such as informed consent, data protection, and conflict of interest. It also examines the structure and function of Research Ethics Committees (RECs) and provides guidance on ethical review processes, risk mitigation, and institutional responsibilities. By strengthening ethical governance, this module enables councils to support responsible research that not only advances knowledge but also protects human dignity and promotes the greater good of society.
Module Overview
| Category | Summary |
| Objectives | – Understand ethical principles in research funding and oversight. – Apply ethics review processes effectively. – Identify and mitigate ethical risks. – Institutionalize integrity systems. |
| Duration | Approx. 7.5 hours total (5 units @ 1.5 hours each) |
| Key Topics | – Guiding ethical principles. – Ethics review processes and structures.- Key ethical risks.- Promoting research integrity.- Institutional oversight mechanisms. |
| Target Participants | Ethics committee members, council executives, grants officers, MEL, and compliance staff. |
| Expected Outcomes | – Councils integrate ethical oversight into funding processes. – Improved compliance with national and international standards.- Ethical risks identified and mitigated.- Institutional ethics frameworks established. |
Training Objectives: By the end of this training module, participants will be able to:
| 1 | Understand the fundamental concepts and key principles of research ethics and integrity. |
| 2 | Identify ethical considerations and risks in research involving human participants, animals, and the environment. |
| 3 | Apply ethical review processes and regulatory requirements to research protocol development and approval. |
| 4 | Promote institutional and personal research integrity through adherence to professional standards and codes of conduct. |
| 5 | Recognize and mitigate ethical misconduct, including fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, and conflict of interest. |
 Training Outcomes: The expected training Outcomes of this Module Include:
| 1 | Participants demonstrate understanding of core ethical principles in research and their application in funding decisions. |
| 2 | Councils establish or strengthen ethical review structures and standard operating procedures (SOPs). |
| 3 | Participants identify and mitigate key ethical risks, including conflicts of interest, data misuse, and informed consent violations. |
| 4 | Institutions promote research integrity by embedding ethics training, compliance monitoring, and institutional accountability systems. |
Facilitation Methods and Procedures
1. Session Flow
a) Opening (5 mins): Stress the link between ethics and research credibility.
b) Presentation (30 mins): Cover the seven guiding ethical principles, ethics review processes, and REC structures.
c) Case Analysis (20 mins): Review a misconduct case and its consequences.
d) Simulation Exercise (30 mins): Role-play an ethics review committee meeting.
e) Wrap-Up (10 mins): Share reflections and recommended resources.
2. Key Discussion Points
a) Ethical principles in research.
b) Role and functions of RECs.
c) Handling ethical breaches.
3. Activities & Exercises
a) Ethics Dilemma Debate: Teams argue different sides of an ethical case.
b) Ethics Checklist Development: Participants create a checklist for proposal review.
4. Facilitation Tips
a) Encourage open discussion without judgment.
b) Use real-life cases for stronger impact.
5. Potential Challenges & Solutions
a) Challenge: Discomfort discussing misconduct.
Solution: Keep focus on learning, not blaming
Training Content
Below are the study units under this module:
Unit 5.1: Understanding Research Ethics and Integrity
Unit 5.2: Ethics Review Process and REC Structures
Unit 5.3: Key Ethical Risks and Responsibilities in Research
Unit 5.4: Promoting Research Integrity
Unit 5.5: Institutionalizing Ethics and Oversight Mechanisms