Foundations of Research Ethics
Research is built on trust—between researchers, participants, and the communities they serve. Foundations of Research Ethics introduces the core principles and practices that ensure research is conducted responsibly, respectfully, and with integrity.
Through a realistic, scenario-based experience, learners step into the role of a researcher leading a community-based study. Along the way, they will explore how ethical principles apply in real decisions—from obtaining informed consent and protecting participant rights to navigating IRB review, managing data responsibly, and addressing authorship and conflicts of interest.
The course connects foundational concepts—such as the Belmont principles of Respect for Persons, Beneficence, and Justice—to practical research situations, helping learners recognize ethical risks and make informed, defensible decisions in their own work.
By the end of the course, learners will be able to identify ethical concerns in research design and conduct, apply ethical decision-making frameworks, and uphold their responsibilities to participants, data, and the broader research community.
