The Need for Ethics Committee Review

JASSS request “ETHICS COMMITTEE REVIEW” for all kinds of scientific research and studies related to data collection methods such as “human, society and human interaction with historical artefacts and cultural assets to be conducted on the survey, test, scale, interview, observation, computer environment test, video/film recording and voice recording”.

What we require of authors

In all manuscripts (of either completed studies or study protocols) describing research on human subjects (irrespective of study design), we require authors to provide the following information. In the case of studies that have been reviewed by an ethics review committee, we require an explicit statement at the end of the Methods section stating that the study has been approved by a legally constituted ethics committee and giving the name and study reference of the committee. Study protocols must be accompanied by a copy of the approval letter submitted along with the manuscript. In the case of studies that have been exempted from review, we require an explicit statement at the end of the Methods section stating that the study has been submitted to a legally constituted ethics committee and deemed exempt from review and giving the name and study reference of the committee. If this process has not been conducted by an ethics committee, then we require a copy of the letter detailing the permissions; depending on the provenance of the letter, we may need to ask for further clarification. If we judge that the author of the letter did not appropriately fulfil the role of an ethics committee, then we will require the author to submit the study to a legally constituted ethics committee. In such cases, we will not take any further decisions until either the study is approved or deemed exempt from review. If a study has not been submitted to a legally constituted ethics committee, then we will require authors to submit it and will not take any further decisions until either it is approved or the committee deems it exempt from review. The subsequent decision should be recorded in an explicit statement at the end of the Methods section stating that the study has been submitted to a legally constituted ethics committee, report the committee name, the decision, and study reference of the committee.

The Key Principles of Ethical Research are

The emotional well-being, physical well-being, rights, dignity and personal values of research participants should be secured; Research participants and contributors should be fully informed regarding the purpose, methods and end-use of the research. They should be clear on what their participation involves and any risks that are associated with the process. These risks should be clearly articulated and if possible quantified; Research participants must participate in a voluntary way, free from coercion. Participants have the right to withdraw at any time; Research must be independent and any conflicts of interest or partiality must be explicit; Normally information provided by the participants should be anonymous. At all times confidentiality must be assured.

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