HWS-REC 2.1
HEALTH AND WELLNESS SCIENCES
GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR RESEARCH ETHICS
The Cape Peninsula University of Technology recognises that the researcher
conducts research within academic, social and physical contexts. This document is
intended to guide the researcher’s practice in these different contexts.
A. The researcher and the research community
The research community comprises: a) the researcher, or research team, b) the
supervisor, administrator and/or coordinator of the research, c) the departmental
and/or faculty structures in which the research is located, d) the wider community of
researchers and research evaluators, and e) the research sponsor (see under
section E).
Ethical practice in relation to research colleagues involves:
1. Carrying out research in a scholarly and responsible manner and taking
responsibility for the design, methodology and execution of the research.
2. Following the principles of honesty, clarity, comprehensiveness, accountability
and openness to public scrutiny.
3. Respecting the right of fellow researchers to research from a variety of
paradigms, and to use a range of methods and techniques
4. Following of procedures to ensure proper accountability
5. The dissemination of research findings for peer review.
6. The acknowledgement of all sources of information and support.
7. Not misusing a research position, funding or findings.
B. The researcher and the research participants
The research participants are the human participants or animals who contribute to or
are engaged in activities in the research process.
Ethical practice in relation to the human research participants involves the following
principles:
1. The researcher/research process should do no harm to any of the research
participants.
2. The researcher should attempt to maximise potential benefits to the research
participants.
3. The research participants must give their informed consent to their involvement in
the research project.
HWS-REC 2.1
4. The researcher should uphold research participants’ rights with regard to respect
for human dignity, the safeguarding of confidentiality or anonymity, and the right
to information.
5. Attention must be given to the specific ethical issues related to research involving
vulnerable participants. For example, permission must be obtained from
parents/guardians when the research participants or participants are minor
children.
C. The researcher and the environment
The environment is defined as the particular physical context in which the research is
conducted.
Ethical practice with regard to the environment involves:
1. Minimising of harmful impacts on the environment and natural resources.
2. Adhering to accepted safety levels and standards when dealing with hazardous
materials.
D. The researcher and South African society
‘South African Society’ is defined as South African citizens and others who live in
South African communities.
Ethical practice with regard to the researcher’s responsibility to South African society
involves:
1. A commitment to conducting research that will contribute to an improved quality
of life for all South Africans.
2. Serving the needs of South African society as a whole.
3. Recognition of society's right of timely access to research findings and to open
debate on their implications.
E. The researcher and sponsors
The sponsors of the research are individuals, institutions or organisations who
support the researcher financially or in other substantive ways, or who commission
the research for payment or other reasons.
Ethical practice in relation to the research sponsors involves:
1. The fulfilling of contractual obligations with regard to the meeting of specific
outputs within specified timeframes.
2. Making available research findings within the specified timeframes.
In areas of potential conflict of interest:
a) The safeguarding of the participants’ rights should take precedence, for example
with reference to confidentiality and anonymity.
b) The integrity of the research process should not be comprised by the demands of
the research sponsors.
F. Document reviewed annually
Last reviewed: April 2008
ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS
i Code of ethics for biosafety (HWS-REC 3.1)
HWS-REC 2.1
ii Code of Ethics for research involving human participants (HWS-REC 3.1)
iii Human Participants’ Review Application (HWS-REC 3.1)
iv Application for Ethical Clearance for the use of Animals (HWA-REC 4.3)