Research in the social and behavioural sciences is diverse in its nature and execution and differs greatly from biomedical research, leading to limited applicability of the Medical Research Involving Human Participants Act (WMO). The diversity not only concerns the broad spectrum that constitutes the social and behavioural sciences, but also the wide range of research methods applied, from surveys to participant observation, and from minimal physical interventions to ethnography.
Therefore, The National Ethics Council for Social and Behavioural Sciences has compiled the Code of Ethics for the Social and Behavioural Sciences; an independent code of conduct for ethical review of research involving human participants, taking this diversity into account. This Code provides guidelines and intends to support researchers and ethical review boards in their ethical reflection.
Apply or explain
By default, the values, principles and procedures as formulated in the code are considered. However, in particular situations it may be necessary for researchers to depart from the code if this is more justifiable on ethical grounds. Adherence to the code is not without obligation, however, and in all cases researchers are expected to be able to clearly explain their considerations and to account for their choices.
Is the Medical Research Involving Human Participants Act (WMO) applicable to your research? If so, review the information on the tab health sciences.
The Code provides information and guidelines about the following sections:
A. Definitions
B. General procedures
C. Scientific relevance, necessity and validity
D. Informed consent
E. Exceptions: when is withholding information, deception, passive consent, or no consent
acceptable?
F. Compensation
G. Data protection and privacy
H. Ethics review committee
I. Complaints procedure
J. Generalized validity, multi-center research, and research at external institutions or locations
The Code of Ethics is based on the following principles: