ESRC Research Ethics Framework

ESRC Research Ethics Framework

The ESRC Research Ethics Framework sets out a set of key ethical principles and a process for proper professional and institutional oversight in terms of research governance that all research funded by the ESRC must meet with.

The 6 key principles are:

1. Research should be designed, reviewed and undertaken to ensure integrity and quality
2. Research staff and subjects must be informed fully about the purpose, methods and intended possible uses of the research, what their participation in the research entails and what risks, if any, are involved. Some variation is allowed in very specific and exceptional research contexts for which detailed guidance is provided in the policy Guidelines
3. The confidentiality of information supplied by research subjects and the anonymity of respondents must be respected
4. Research participants must participate in a voluntary way, free from any coercion
5. Harm to research participants must be avoided
6. The independence of research must be clear, and any conflicts of interest or partiality must be explicit

The University regular considers its processes for ethical review and approval against the ESRC Research Ethics Framework.