Research Ethics

Research ethics refers to the moral principles and guidelines that govern the conduct of research involving human participants, animals, and the environment. It encompasses the principles of transparency, integrity, and respect for all participants and subjects involved in research activities. Ethical research practices ensure that studies are conducted responsibly, with proper consideration for the welfare and rights of all participants, while maintaining scientific rigor and validity.

In interdisciplinary research, ethical considerations become even more complex as different fields may have varying ethical standards and requirements. Researchers must navigate these differences while ensuring compliance with relevant laws, regulations, and institutional guidelines. The ethical framework should be established early in the research design process and maintained throughout all stages of the study.

Informed consent from research participants

Informed consent is a fundamental ethical principle that requires researchers to obtain voluntary agreement from participants before their involvement in research. This process ensures that participants have a clear understanding of the research purpose, procedures, potential risks and benefits, and their rights as participants. The consent process must be conducted in a manner that respects participant autonomy and decision-making capacity.

Participants must be provided with comprehensive information about the study, including the nature of their involvement, potential risks and benefits, confidentiality measures, and their right to withdraw from the study at any time without penalty. Researchers should adhere to established guidelines from organizations such as the American Anthropological Association and British Sociological Association when designing consent procedures.

Evidence of consent must be documented appropriately, which may include written consent forms, audio recordings, or other suitable methods depending on the research context and participant preferences. In cases where written informed consent was not provided, authors must be prepared to provide further information about the rationale and method of obtaining verbal consent to the journal editorial office upon request. Authors who have obtained written consent should be prepared to provide evidence of informed consent, such as signed consent forms upon request, unless unable to do so due to confidentiality or legal restrictions.

Participants consent to publish identifiable information

Researchers have an ethical obligation to ensure that participants have a clear and complete understanding of how the findings of a study will be used and distributed. Authors should include within the manuscript a statement confirming that Consent to Publish was obtained from research participants. Consent to Publish is a journal requirement and cannot be exempted by an ethics committee. Where applicable, researchers should also obtain consent for the use, re-use and sharing of the data gathered about them during the study. Authors must be prepared to provide copies of signed consent forms to the journal editorial office if requested. Journal editors and the publisher reserve the right to reject articles without adequate evidence of consent from human participants.

For submissions having information that could be used to potentially identify an individual (e.g., by their online alias or social media handles), authors must confirm that they have obtained written informed consent to publish the details from the affected individual (or their parents/guardians if the participant in not an adult or unable to give informed consent). Identifying information includes (but is not limited to) written descriptions, photographs, illustrations, recordings, videos, pedigrees and rare diseases, physical traits or disorders. The process of obtaining consent to publish should include sharing the article with the participant (or guardian), so that they are fully aware of the content of the article before it is published.

The Consent to Publish statement must confirm that identifiable details, images, videos, or recordings can be published, and that those giving consent have seen the article content. Authors should use this Consent to Publish Form, which must be completed, signed, and stored securely.

Human dignity

All human beings, living and deceased, should be treated with dignity and respect in academic research. Ethical research practices require that researchers are vigilant in ensuring that their work minimizes risk and avoids harm to participants. Special consideration should be given to protecting the dignity and wellbeing of vulnerable participants, including but not limited to children, refugees, asylum seekers, migrants, institutionalized persons, or anyone who may lack capacity to provide informed consent. Authors should be familiar with disciplinary, institutional, and national/international guidelines regarding research on vulnerable populations. Researchers should follow guidelines established by organizations such as The European Commission, Global Association of Human Trafficking Scholars, and Economic and Social Research Council for research involving these groups. Written informed consent must be obtained from the parent/guardian of participants who are not legally adults. Age of legal adulthood is determined by the country where study participants are based, which is typically between ages 16-18. Ideally, researchers should also seek assent from children, where possible. A statement to confirm informed consent has been obtained must be included within the manuscript. In settings where verbal informed consent has been obtained rather than written informed consent, this must be explained and stated within the manuscript.

Non-stigmatizing and non-discriminatory language should be used when describing groups by race, ethnicity, age, disease, ability, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or other identity category. Where a particular study may necessitate the inclusion of derogatory or offensive language (e.g., direct quotes, transcribed interviews, lyrics, etc.), authors should make clear the scholarly purpose for such terminology. Authors should consider including content warnings when articles contain particularly graphic or culturally sensitive content (e.g., violence, sexual abuse, human remains). Authors must be prepared to provide further information and documentation regarding research methods and approvals to the journal editorial office upon request.

Journal editors and the publisher reserve the right to reject articles that do not adhere to the above considerations.

Prospective studies on humans

Prospective studies involving human participants, particularly those involving interventions such as clinical trials, require rigorous ethical oversight and approval from appropriate institutional review boards or ethics committees. These studies must be designed to minimize risks while maximizing potential benefits to participants and society. Written consent is typically required for prospective studies, and participants must be fully informed about the nature of the intervention, potential risks and benefits, and their right to withdraw at any time. When research involves data from deceased participants, researchers must ensure that appropriate consent was obtained during the participant's lifetime or that the research meets specific criteria for posthumous research. Data collection and analysis must be conducted with appropriate safeguards for participant privacy and confidentiality. When possible, data should be anonymized to protect participant identities while maintaining the scientific value of the research.

Research involving animals

Research involving animals requires approval from appropriate ethics committees and must comply with established guidelines for the humane treatment of animals. Researchers must demonstrate that the potential benefits of the research justify the use of animals and that all possible measures have been taken to minimize pain, distress, and suffering. For field studies involving wild animals, researchers must obtain appropriate permits and ensure that their research activities do not significantly impact animal populations or their natural habitats. When working with client-owned animals, researchers must obtain informed consent from the animal owners and ensure that the research does not compromise the animal's welfare. Researchers should establish humane endpoints for their studies and be prepared to euthanize animals when necessary to prevent unnecessary suffering. All research involving animals should follow established guidelines such as the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals: Eighth Edition and American Veterinary Medical Association Guidelines for the Humane Slaughter of Animals.

Research involving plants

Research on plants (cultivated or wild), including the collection of plant material must be carried out in accordance with guidelines provided by the authors’ institution(s) and national or international regulations. Field studies should comply with local legislation, and the manuscript should include a statement of appropriate permissions granted and/or licenses. Voucher specimens must be deposited in a public herbarium or other public collection providing access to deposited material. Information on the voucher specimen and who identified it must be included in the manuscript.