Research Ethics Checklist

Key ethical considerations include: (1) Informed consent - participants must understand what they are agreeing to, (2) Confidentiality and data protection - how will you store and protect participant information, (3) Risk assessment - physical, psychological, social, or economic risks to participants, (4) Vulnerable populations - extra protections needed for children, prisoners, or cognitively impaired individuals, (5) Deception - if used, how will you debrief participants, (6) Compensation - appropriate but not coercive incentives, (7) Conflict of interest - disclosure of funding or relationships that could bias research. Address all these in your IRB application.

Usually yes, if collecting data from human participants for generalizable knowledge (research vs. quality improvement). Even minimal risk online surveys require IRB review. Some institutions offer expedited review or exempt determinations for low-risk surveys with anonymous data collection. IRB approval is typically needed regardless of data collection method (online, in-person, phone). Submit IRB applications before any data collection, including pilot testing. Check your institution's specific requirements as policies vary.

Confidentiality protection strategies include: (1) Remove identifying information (names, addresses, dates of birth) from datasets, (2) Use participant ID codes instead of names, (3) Store consent forms separately from data in locked cabinets or encrypted files, (4) Limit data access to essential research team members only, (5) Use secure data transmission (encrypted email, secure file transfer), (6) Plan data destruction timeline (typically 3-7 years after publication), (7) In reports and publications, use pseudonyms and mask identifying details. Document all protection measures in your IRB protocol.

Confidentiality means you know participant identities but protect this information and do not reveal it. Anonymous research means you never collect identifying information - even researchers cannot link responses to specific individuals. True anonymity is rare (surveys with no names/emails, observational research in public settings). Most research is confidential, not anonymous, because you need contact information for follow-up, compensation, or longitudinal studies. Be precise in consent forms about whether research is confidential or anonymous - most researchers incorrectly promise anonymity when they mean confidentiality.