Writing ethical research questions is an absolute necessity when conducting empirical research. An Institutional Review Board (IRB) must review any proposed study involving human beings before it is undertaken. In order to ask ethical research questions, IRB approval must be obtained before conducting research! So, this part of the FINER framework always takes care of itself when researchers file an IRB application for review.
Protocols and methods must be presented in a standardized format for review by a board of experts across a wide range of specialties. When using observational designs (especially retrospective designs), or mining data, your application can be filed as an exemption, meaning that it will not require a full-board IRB review. Experimental studies and any study where something is done to human beings or animals will ALWAYS require a full-board IRB review.
With the FINER framwork, ethical research questions meet all guidelines for protecting human beings and at-risk populations. It is also extremely important to stick to the protocol that has been reviewed by the IRB. Any deviations from this original protocol must be approved before implementing ANYTHING new into a research study or experiment.
Protocols and methods must be presented in a standardized format for review by a board of experts across a wide range of specialties. When using observational designs (especially retrospective designs), or mining data, your application can be filed as an exemption, meaning that it will not require a full-board IRB review. Experimental studies and any study where something is done to human beings or animals will ALWAYS require a full-board IRB review.
With the FINER framwork, ethical research questions meet all guidelines for protecting human beings and at-risk populations. It is also extremely important to stick to the protocol that has been reviewed by the IRB. Any deviations from this original protocol must be approved before implementing ANYTHING new into a research study or experiment.
Here are some questions to answer when writing ethical research questions with FINER.
- How will potential participants be recruited?
- How will potential participants be consented?
- What steps will be taken for the safety of potential participants?
- Will any incentives be used to increase participation or response rates?
- What are the benefits of participation in the study?
- What are the risks of participation in the study?
- How will confidentiality and anonymity of participants be upheld?
- Who will have access to the study data and where will it be stored?
Click on the Relevant Research Questions button to continue working through the FINER framework.
