Research ethics: Home

This guide provides a range of resources to assist researchers when considering research ethics. It is primarily aimed at researchers in the social sciences.

If you have a suggestion for a resource to add - let us know

 University Resources

Research Integrity https://www.stir.ac.uk/research/research-ethics-and-integrity/understanding-ethics/

Research Ethics Committees (RECs)

https://www.stir.ac.uk/research/research-ethics-and-integrity/

• Animal Welfare and Ethical Review Body (AWERB) 
• NHS, Invasive or Clinical Research (NICR) 
• General University Ethics Panel (GUEP) 

Funders & National Organisations

• NEW:  UKRIO and ARMA have published a guide on "Research Ethics. Support and Review in Research Organisations, April 2020
• ESRC Framework for Research ethics https://esrc.ukri.org/funding/guidance-for-applicants/research-ethics/
• Concordat to support research integrity. Universities UK 2012 http://www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/policy-and-analysis/reports/Pages/research-concordat.aspx
• COPE Committee on Publication Ethics, Promoting integrity in research publication http://publicationethics.org/
• Scottish Government Social Research Ethical Sensitivity Checklist  (2015) http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Research/About/Social-Research/Guidance-for-Contractors/Ethical-Sensitivity-Check
• Government Social Research Unit   GSR Professional Guidance. Ethical Assurance for Social Research in Government  https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/515296/ethics_guidance_tcm6-5782.pdf
• European Union Ethics in EU Research  https://ec.europa.eu/programmes/horizon2020/en/h2020-section/ethics
• Nursing & Midwifery Council  The code: Standards of conduct, performance and ethics for nurses and midwives http://www.nmc-uk.org/Publications/Standards/The-code/Introduction/
• British Educational Research Association https://www.bera.ac.uk/researchers-resources/publications/ethical-guidelines-for-educational-research-2018
• British Psychological Society Code of Ethics and Conduct https://www.bps.org.uk/sites/bps.org.uk/files/Policy/Policy%20-%20Files/BPS%20Code%20of%20Ethics%20and%20Conduct%20%28Updated%20July%202018%29.pdf
• British Psychological Society Code of Human Research Ethics  https://www.bps.org.uk/news-and-policy/bps-code-human-research-ethics-2nd-edition-2014
• Nuffield Council on Bioethics  - Exploring ethical issues in biology and medicine http://nuffieldbioethics.org/
• ERIC Ethical Research Involving Children http://childethics.com/
• UNICEF Ethical Research Involving Children (2013) https://www.unicef-irc.org/publications/706/
• Norwegian National Research Ethics Committees https://www.etikkom.no/en/library/

 Websites

• A video produced by Elsevier on Why you can't afford to ignore publication ethics  
• Association of Internet Researchers https://aoir.org/
• The AoIR have produced some useful guidelines on ethical decision making and internet research. For example Ethical Decision-Making and Internet Research
• Social Research Association http://the-sra.org.uk/events/archive/ Two useful presentation from the seminar Getting to yes in the digital age and  and  #whatareyoudoingwithmydata: a framework for social media ethics