Statement of purpose

Background

Overview

• Principles and areas
  • Contracting
  • Ethics
    • Respect
    • Integrity
    • Responsiveness
    • Competency
    • Reciprocity
  • Pacific Peoples
  • Maori

Context

Launch of Good Practice guidelines quality research workshop

Acknowledgements

Applying the Principle of Integrity to research and evaluation ethics

To ensure the ethical integrity of their work officials should:

• Adequately inform people of the aims, methods, anticipated benefits and potential hazards of participating  in a project.

Projects such as The Unfortunate Experiment at National Womens (1966 Study in Cervical Carcinoma In Situ), which led to the Cartwright Enquiry 1988; or the Tuskegee Syphilis Project may seem extreme but they did occur. Codes of Ethics and ethical guidelines seek to minimise repeats.

• Ensure that the consent process includes the following information:
  • the names of the researchers/organisation conducting the research
  • information on the purpose of the research and intended uses of any information derived from the process
  • full details of participants' involvement and responsibilities, including the type of information required from them and the nature of any task they will be required to perform
  • any risks associated with their involvement
  • any benefits that will result from their participation
  • a statement ensuring the confidentiality of the information they provide, and information about the mechanisms that will be used to ensure confidentiality
  • the choice of whether to remain anonymous (or not), and information on the strategies and processes that will be used to ensure anonymity
  • access to information they provide, including whether they will have an opportunity to alter or withdraw the information
  • information about access to the results of the research, including the final report
  • information on their right to refuse to take part or withdraw from the research any stage of the project including future unspecified research.

• Conduct the research according to the agreed protocols (i.e., of the research ethics committee if applicable, the project management committee/Advisory Group) and in accordance with legal requirements and professional guidance (e.g. the code of practice of the professional body they are members of, the procedures of the agency they are employed by).  

• Seek peer advice - internally, or/and through the SPEaR member agency network if internal resources are limited.

Encouraging a Peer Review Network (informal and more formally if necessary) has been identified through the consultation process as something the sector wants. Several agencies utilise personal contacts built up via SPEaR to approach other agencies directly.   Some requests come via the Secretariat. Peer Networking includes Advisory committee membership, formalised collaborative project specific partnerships, formal peer review, Assessing Panel membership, second opinion advice etc.

• Report research findings accurately, completely and without distortion and note any variables and conditions that may have affected the outcomes or interpretations of the data.