Ethics

Question 1

What does require ethics approval?

Answer 1

• All proposed research which involves ‘human subjects’.

- Research that is eligible to receive funding from one of the three major funding agencies.

Question 2

What does not require ethics approval?

Answer 2

• info that is publicly available.
• info that is in the public domain.
• info based on observation of people in public spaces.
• research based exclusively on secondary use of anonymous information.

Question 3

How is Risk Assessed?

Answer 3

As a function of magnitude of harm and it’s probability.

Question 4

Magnitude

Answer 4

a range that runs from minimal to substantial, and may be interpreted differently by participants and researchers.

Question 5

Probability

Answer 5

assessed based on researchers past experience doing similar studies that rely rates of relevant harm.

Question 6

Requirements for Consent

Answer 6

• obtained freely, and can be withdrawn at any point.
• is ongoing.
• third parties may provide consent for those who lack the capacity to make the decision for themselves.
• opportunity for participants to ask questions.
• use plain language.

Question 7

What issues must consent consider?

Answer 7

Consent must consider issues of: undue influence, coercion, incentives, access to information.

Question 8

You may not need consent if research is:

Answer 8

• impossible to carry out if prior consent is required.
• no more than minimal risk.
• unlikely to adversely affect the welfare of participants.

Question 9

Confidentiality

Answer 9

a condition in which the researcher knows the identity of a research subject, but takes steps to protect that identity from being discovered by others.

Question 10

Anonymity

Answer 10

a condition in which the identity of individual subjects is not known to researchers.

Question 11

Conflicts of Interest

Answer 11

refers to situations in which your duties and responsibilities as a researcher may be in conflict with your duties and responsibilities as an individual.

Question 12

Types of conflicts of interest

Answer 12

1. ) institutional conflict
2. ) REB member conflict
3. ) researcher conflict

Question 13

Institutional conflict

Answer 13

when there is a conflict between two institutional obligations that cannot be adequately fulfilled without compromising one or both obligations.

Question 14

REB member conflict

Answer 14

REB member’s personal or professional interests can influence their review of research proposals.

Question 15

Researcher conflict

Answer 15

conflicts that may compromise researcher’s independence or objectivity.

Question 16

Research with Indigenous Groups

Answer 16

• Research on lands must engage with community elders/leaders.
• Should critically examine institutions exercising authority over indigenous groups.
• Should respect community customs (give gifts, i.e tobacco).