Ethical Frameworks and Guidelines

Ethical Frameworks and Guidelines

As a researcher when you address the ethical implications of your work you should be familiar with various ethics frameworks and guidelines.

The two most significant ethics frameworks for researchers at UW are:

• ESRC Research Ethics Frameworks - this is primarily of significance to those engaged in research in the social sciences
• Department of Health Research Governance Framework for Health and Social Care - this is relevant for those engaged in research relating to the NHS

There are, however, a wide range of subject specific guidelines and codes of practice. What follows are a selection of these guidelines/codes:

• Biological Sciences
  • BBSRC Ethics, Morality and Animal Biotechnology
  • Nuffield Council on Bioethics 
• Education
  • BERA Ethical Guidelines for Educational Research 2011
  • National Children's Bureau Guidelines for Research with Children and Young People
• Health & Medicine
  • MRC Good Research Practice
  • Wellcome Trust Guidelines on Good Research Practice
  • WMA Declaration of Helsinki - Ethical Principles for Medical Research Involving Human Subjects 
• History
  • Oral History Ethical and Legal Guidelines 
• Natural Environment
  • NERC Ethics Policy 
• Psychology
  • APA Ethics Code 
  • BPS Code of Conduct and Ethical Guidelines
• Social Sciences
  • Social Policy Association Guidelines on Research Ethics 
  • Social Research Association Ethical Guidelines
• Sociology
  • British Society of Criminology Code of Ethics
  • British Sociological Society Statement of Ethical Practice
• Sport & Exercise Science
  • BASES Code of Conduct