Research Ethics Policy

At AIES, we are dedicated to promoting integrity, responsibility, and ethical standards in all research activities. This Research Ethics Policy outlines the principles and guidelines that govern research conducted by students, faculty, and staff at AIES’s affiliated centers. Each center is responsible for reviewing and approving research proposals to ensure ethical compliance in line with AIES’s standards and applicable laws.

1. Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to ensure that all research conducted under the auspices of AIES and its approved centers is carried out in an ethical manner, respecting the rights, dignity, and welfare of participants, and maintaining the integrity of the research process. This policy aims to prevent misconduct and promote transparency, accountability, and respect for ethical principles.

2. Scope

This policy applies to all individuals conducting research affiliated with AIES, including:

• Students
• Faculty and staff
• Research collaborators and partners
• Research centers and laboratories associated with AIES

The policy covers all forms of research, including but not limited to:

• Academic Research: Studies, projects, and theses conducted as part of coursework or programs.
• Institutional Research: Research commissioned or supported by AIES and its centers, including funded projects.
• Collaborative Research: Research conducted in partnership with other institutions or organizations.

3. Role of Centers in Research Approval

Each approved center under AIES is responsible for reviewing and approving research proposals submitted by students, staff, or collaborators affiliated with the center. The center must ensure that all research complies with AIES’s ethical standards and local regulations.

a. Center Research Review Board (CRRB)

Each center must establish a Center Research Review Board (CRRB) or appoint a designated authority to review and approve research proposals. The CRRB is responsible for:

• Ensuring the ethical integrity of all research conducted at the center.
• Evaluating the potential risks and benefits of research projects.
• Overseeing compliance with AIES’s Research Ethics Policy and applicable laws.
• Providing guidance on ethical research practices to students and staff.

b. Research Review Process

The CRRB must review all research proposals involving human or animal subjects before any data collection begins. This includes:

• Assessing the risks to participants and ensuring that appropriate safeguards are in place.
• Verifying that proper informed consent procedures are implemented.
• Ensuring that participant privacy and data confidentiality are protected.

Centers are responsible for maintaining records of all research proposals and approvals, and for reporting approved research to AIES when required.

4. Principles of Research Ethics

AIES is committed to upholding the following key principles in all research activities conducted at its centers:

a. Integrity and Honesty

Researchers are expected to conduct their work with honesty, transparency, and accuracy. This includes:

• Ensuring that all data, findings, and methodologies are reported truthfully and without fabrication, falsification, or selective reporting.
• Acknowledging the contributions of others and avoiding plagiarism or misrepresentation of authorship.

b. Respect for Participants

Researchers must respect the dignity, rights, and welfare of all research participants by:

• Obtaining informed consent from participants before involving them in any research activity.
• Ensuring that participation is voluntary and that participants can withdraw at any time without penalty.
• Protecting participants’ privacy and confidentiality by safeguarding personal and sensitive information.

c. Beneficence and Non-Maleficence

Researchers must aim to maximize benefits and minimize harm. This includes:

• Ensuring that research is designed to contribute positively to knowledge, society, or the participants themselves.
• Avoiding physical, psychological, or emotional harm to participants and taking appropriate measures to mitigate any risks.

d. Justice and Fairness

Researchers must treat all participants fairly and without discrimination, ensuring equal access to participation in research. This involves:

• Avoiding the exploitation of vulnerable populations and ensuring that the benefits and burdens of research are distributed fairly.

5. Informed Consent

a. Obtaining Consent

Before beginning any research involving human participants, researchers must obtain informed consent. This involves:

• Providing participants with clear, accurate information about the research objectives, procedures, risks, and benefits.
• Explaining the voluntary nature of participation and participants’ right to withdraw at any time.
• Ensuring that participants fully understand the information provided and giving them the opportunity to ask questions.

b. Documenting Consent

Informed consent must be documented, typically through a signed consent form. In some cases, verbal consent may be appropriate, but it should still be documented.

c. Special Considerations

For research involving vulnerable populations (e.g., children, individuals with disabilities), additional safeguards must be in place, and consent must be obtained from legal guardians where applicable.

6. Privacy and Confidentiality

a. Data Protection

Researchers must take steps to protect participants’ privacy by:

• Ensuring that personal data is collected, stored, and processed in accordance with AIES’s Privacy Policy.
• Anonymizing or de-identifying data whenever possible to protect participants’ identities.

b. Confidentiality

All data and information shared by participants must be treated as confidential unless participants explicitly agree to its disclosure. Researchers must ensure that only authorized personnel have access to sensitive data.

7. Research Involving Animals

For research involving animals, centers must ensure that ethical guidelines for the humane treatment of animals are followed. This includes:

• Minimizing pain, distress, and suffering in animal subjects.
• Using alternatives to animal research whenever possible, and ensuring that the number of animals used is minimized.
• Complying with local laws and regulations governing the care and use of animals in research.

8. Research Misconduct

AIES has a zero-tolerance policy toward research misconduct. Research misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

• Fabrication: Making up data or results.
• Falsification: Manipulating research materials, equipment, or processes to misrepresent results.
• Plagiarism: Using someone else’s work, ideas, or words without proper acknowledgment.
• Breach of Confidentiality: Unauthorized disclosure of confidential information.

Any individual found guilty of research misconduct will be subject to disciplinary action, which may include revocation of research approval, dismissal from the institution, or legal action.

9. Center’s Role in Ensuring Compliance

Centers are responsible for:

• Ensuring that all research conducted at their institution adheres to the highest ethical standards.
• Maintaining records of approved research and monitoring ongoing projects to ensure continued compliance with this policy.
• Reporting any cases of research misconduct to AIES for further investigation and action.

10. Reporting Ethical Concerns

If a researcher, participant, or any other individual suspects a breach of research ethics, they are encouraged to report it to the Center Research Review Board (CRRB) at their respective center. Concerns may include:

• Allegations of research misconduct.
• Violations of participant rights or privacy.
• Failure to obtain informed consent.

Centers are responsible for investigating these reports and taking appropriate action. In cases of serious misconduct, the center must report the issue to AIES.

11. Policy Review and Updates

AIES will review this Research Ethics Policy periodically to ensure it remains up-to-date with evolving ethical standards and legal requirements. Centers are responsible for ensuring compliance with any updates and communicating them to their researchers.