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.
By the end of this course, learners will be able to:
- Explain the core ethical principles and historical foundations that guide responsible research.
- Identify ethical risks in research design, participant interaction, and data handling.
- Apply ethical principles to make informed decisions in real-world research scenarios.
- Describe the role of informed consent and IRB oversight in protecting participants.
- Uphold ethical responsibilities related to privacy, data integrity, authorship, and transparency.
This course is designed for individuals involved in designing, conducting, or supporting research with human participants or data, including students, researchers, public health and clinical professionals, and program evaluators.
It is appropriate for those new to research ethics as well as those seeking a practical refresher on ethical principles and responsibilities.
Pettus, C. (2026). Foundations of Research Ethics. Justice Community Opioid Innovation Network Coordination and Translation Center. https://www.jcoinctc.org/courses/foundations-of-research-ethics/
Research Ethics, Ethical Research, Human Subjects Research, Research Integrity, Responsible Research Conduct, Informed Consent, Participant Rights, Institutional Review Board (IRB), Ethical Decision-Making, Risk and Benefit Analysis, Confidentiality, Anonymity, Vulnerable Populations, Ethical Research Design, Data Ethics, Data Privacy, Data Integrity, Data Sharing Ethics, Authorship Ethics, Conflicts of Interest, Belmont Principles, Justice in Research, Beneficence, Respect for Persons, Research Misconduct
