Session Duration: 2 hours
Format: Lecture, group risk identification exercise
Research ethics refers to the principles and standards that govern responsible conduct in the design, implementation, and dissemination of research. It encompasses respect for human and animal subjects, privacy, data protection, and broader social and environmental responsibilities. Research integrity, on the other hand, is about conducting research honestly, accurately, and transparently in a way that allows others to trust the methods, data, and findings.
Group Task: In groups, identify real or hypothetical ethical issues faced by your research council. Classify these into themes, such as human subjects, data privacy, authorship, conflict of interest, etc.
Ethical Principles Guiding Research
Some guiding Ethical Principles form the foundation for conducting research that is respectful, responsible, and aligned with global standards of human dignity and scientific integrity. These principles ensure that research involving human participants and other sensitive subjects is designed and implemented in a way that protects rights, promotes fairness, and maximizes societal benefit. Each principle addresses a key dimension of ethical practice, ranging from the social value of research to informed consent and participant respect. Together, they provide a framework for evaluating the ethical acceptability of any research project and guide institutions, researchers, and review bodies in making sound, ethical decisions throughout the research lifecycle. Below are the principles guiding ethical research conducts:
1. Social and Clinical Value: The foundation of ethical research is that it must have value, not just for the researcher or funding institution, but for society as a whole. Social and clinical value refers to the potential of a research study to generate knowledge that contributes to health, development, policy, or innovation outcomes. This is especially critical in low-resource settings where public funds are limited and research must be geared toward pressing social needs.
2. Scientific Validity: Ethical research must be scientifically sound. This means it must use valid research methods, reliable tools, and an appropriate study design that can reasonably answer the research question. Invalid research not only wastes time and resources, but also unnecessarily exposes participants to risks without the prospect of generating useful knowledge. In West Africa, where capacity and infrastructure may be limited, councils must pay particular attention to ensuring that studies are methodologically robust and feasible.
3. Fair Subject Selection: Fairness in subject selection requires that participants are chosen based on the scientific goals of the research, and not on convenience, vulnerability, or manipulability. This principle discourages the targeting of easily accessible but vulnerable populations (e.g., low-income groups, children, prisoners) unless their inclusion is scientifically justified. It also prohibits unjustified exclusion of groups (e.g., women, elderly, persons with disabilities) from participating in research that may benefit them.
4. Favourable Risk-Benefit Ratio: All research entails some level of risk,
5. whether physical, psychological, social, or economic. This principle requires that risks be minimized as much as possible and are justified by the anticipated benefits of the research. Ethical research weighs potential harm against the knowledge or improvements it may generate and takes active steps to reduce the burden on participants.
6. Independent Review: An independent ethical review is a safeguard against bias, poor judgment, and potential exploitation. It ensures that research proposals are scrutinized by qualified, impartial reviewers who have no vested interest in the study. The presence of Research Ethics Committees (RECs), with diverse membership (including community representatives, legal experts, and subject specialists), guarantees that multiple perspectives are considered before a study begins.
7. Informed Consent: Informed consent is the process by which potential participants voluntarily agree to participate in a study after fully understanding its purpose, risks, benefits, and their rights. It is not just a signed form, it is an ongoing dialogue between the researcher and the participant. True informed consent requires that the information be presented in a language and format that is understandable to the participant. In West Africa, this might involve translating materials into local languages, using visual aids for low-literacy populations, or allowing participants time to consult with family or community leaders.
8. Respect for Potential and Enrolled Participants: Respect must be shown to participants from the first point of contact through to the conclusion of the study and beyond. This includes safeguarding their privacy, protecting their data, ensuring anonymity where promised, and informing them of their rights, including the right to withdraw without consequence.
These Seven Guiding Ethical Principles are practical tools for safeguarding the dignity, rights, and well-being of research participants while ensuring that research outcomes are credible, impactful, and socially responsible. For West African research funding councils, upholding these principles strengthens the research ecosystem, builds public trust, and ensures that science serves the collective good.
Facilitator Notes
a) Start with real-life ethical dilemmas for discussion.
b) Stress principles: autonomy, beneficence, justice.
c) Link ethics to public trust and credibility.
Suggestions for Further Reading
a) Resnik, D. (2015). What is Ethics in Research & Why is it Important? NIH.
b) Steneck, N. (2007). ORI Introduction to the Responsible Conduct of Research.