Introduction

Ethics in human research is a field of study that examines the moral dynamics of the various relations between researchers and test subjects to assure that the humans involved in research are given all due consideration for their well-being and safety. These concerns cover both biomedical research and social behavioral, the latter being the focus of this course.

Learning Expectations

After taking this course, learners should be able to:

  • Understand the history and significance of human research ethics
  • Be familiar with the provisions of the Belmont Report
  • Understand the fundamentals of human research ethics

 

Foundations

In 1979,  the National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research would deliver the publication that would become the basis of modern research regulation, known as the Belmont Report. It’s provisions would later be adopted by 15 federal agencies and become known as the Common Rule. It outlined three key ethical principles for research involving human subjects to abide by:

  1. Respect for Persons
  2. Beneficence
  3. Justice

We will examine the three as our foundation for understanding ethics in human behavioral research.