Human Research Ethics Committee:
Some Ethical Reminders for Researchers
The Human Research Ethics Committee believes that there are some values that researchers should have. These should be adhered to in all research projects. A short list includes:
- Honesty/truthfulness/openness.
- Respect for privacy/confidentiality.
- Fidelity to one's word.
- Careful consideration of health risks, both physical and psychological.
- Responsible use of one's power/authority/knowledge/resources.
- Respect for the dignity and autonomy of subjects especially their right to know their objective condition.
- Job security of any subjects who are objects of research by superiors in the same or related organisation.
- Fairness/impartiality with respect to work requirements/credit to co-researchers.
The Committee also recommends adherence to general principles such as:
- Do as you would be done by/Do not do as you would not be done by.
- Do as you would wish others in like circumstances to your own to do.
- Keep your word/agreements.
- Do not harm others, physically or psychologically.
- Empower others where possible and avoid abuse of your power.
- Be truthful/honest/fair.
Finally, consider things to be avoided:
- Breach of confidences and agreements.
- Deception.
- Absence of informed consent or autonomy of subjects.
- Risk of harm or offence.
- Use of unequal power/position/information or wealth.
- Acts involving some conflict of interest.
The onus or burden of proof which lies on those engaging in these activities is not easy to meet. The presumption should be that they are exceptionlessly wrong.
What HREC Looks For
HREC looks for a clear statement of:
- Who is involved (researchers, people who will be research subjects, relevant authorities).
- What the research is about/on (question/s posed, issue/s raised; intent of the research).
- Why the research is undertaken (benefits of knowledge to be acquired and by whom; motive of research).
- How the research will be conducted (what will be done and where, by whom, when).
HREC occasionally finds lack of clarity in (1) - (3) but generally these points are easily and well handled by applicants. However, (4) is the most likely to require careful responses by the applicant and to be the focus of HREC. Requirements arising from 'how' the research will be done include:
- Permission from any authorities/organisations/individuals involved in provision of sites, research populations, or finances. The letterhead/name of CSU must be used with care for the University's reputation.
Methods and places of recruitment must be clear. Recruitment of research subjects must:- avoid unfair pressure to participate and assure that there will be no sanction for non-cooperation;
- provide for informed consent to be given by all subjects as a norm;
- assure confidentiality to all subjects where appropriate; and
- provide information on how their names were obtained.
- Dates and places. Researchers should note that it is unsatisfactory to submit an application after the research has commenced. The Committee needs time to assess your research proposal carefully. Use of locations other than CSU can present problems under (1) above, and in all cases exactly where the research is to be conducted with and by whom so that we can decide if appropriate permission is to be sought.
- Ordinary moral expectations re avoidance of deception, theft, fraud, infliction of harm or offence, compromising of autonomy/and or sexual integrity must be upheld. Under very extraordinary circumstances, the Committee may accept negotiation on these matters, for instance where it can be demonstrated that the research method is based on placebos or a similar approach.
However, even if (e.g.) non-disclosure is unavoidable/or reasonably foreseeable but unintended, or informed consent is curtailed, or invasive procedures which may shame, offend or harm or which risk breach of confidentiality or privacy to any degree are used, the Committee needs to be informed of the nature of the extraordinary circumstances which allegedly make such things necessary. If non-disclosure, partial abridgement of fully informed consent and waivers of confidentiality are to be permitted in a research proposal, or discomfort and pressure to respond are expected to occur we must be notified of the circumstances, and every effort to provide for the redress of any exception of these rules e.g. by later disclosure. However during recruitment of research co-operators it is expected that information on questionable procedures should be provided.
The probability and degree of risk of such damage or detriment to research subjects including painful, physical or psychological conditions, theft of intellectual property, possible loss of good reputation, self-incrimination by subjects and intimidation due to age, role dependency of subjects, gender or disability must be estimated by the researcher(s) and the committee. The onus is on the researcher to minimise such proposed methods and make at least a limited disclosure.
For more information contact the Executive Officer to the Committee:
| Executive Officer
Email: ethics@csu.edu.au Phone: 02 6338 4628 Fax: 02 6338 4194 |
Location Office of Academic Governance Level 3, Building S1 CSU Bathurst Campus |
Postal Address Office of Academic Governance Charles Sturt University Panorama Avenue Bathurst NSW 2795 |