Introduction to Research Ethics quiz

Summary

Score for this module: 100%

1. The ‘conflict of mission’ in research refers to the potential conflict between: 1. 

preventing harm to an individual, and 2. gaining scientific k…

 True Your correct answer

 False

2. Which of the following should not be included as part of the research protocol and 

submitted to the REC (ERC)?

 The budget, including sources of funding

 Curricula vitae of the Principal Investigator and the core research team

 The information sheet and consent form that potential participants will be asked 

to sign

 A section on the ethical aspects of the protocol, and how the investigators are 

planning to deal with the ethical issues that may arise

 If the protocol has also been reviewed elsewhere, a list of the ethics committee 

members who reviewed the protocol Your correct answer

 A description of how data will be kept confidential and private

3. The Secretariat of an ethics committee can overturn the decision of a committee if they 

find it unreasonable

 True

 False Your correct answer

4. Following an animated discussion and after much debate, an REC has decided not to 

approve a research study that is utilizing a placebo control desi…

 Explain the Committee’s rationale, and share the detailed comments made by 

members of the Committee in order to diffuse the situation and provide a better 

understanding of the REC functioning

 Refuse to enter into any discussion with the PI but invite him to share their views 

with the REC Secretariat, citing confidentiality as a rationale Your correct answer

5. Ethics committee members should consider the following issues when reviewing a 

protocol:

 have research risks have been minimised?

 is appropriate information being provided to participants in a comprehensible 

way?

 are there appropriate provisions to protect privacy and confidentiality?

 are the proposed inducements for participants to take part in research 

appropriate?

 all of the above Your correct answer

6. It is often said that 'bad science is unethical'. Please choose the best follow-up sentence.

 However, research ethics committees are not qualified to judge the science of a 

protocol and should therefore not consider the science in their protocol review

 However, if the protocol has been reviewed and 'approved' by a scientific or 

technical committee prior to ethical review, the ethics committee should set 

aside their doubts as experts have already provided input

 Ethics review committees should, therefore, consider the science of the protocol 

where it has an impact on the ethics of the study Your correct answer

 However, this statement is false. Science and ethics are completely separate 

issues and should never be considered by the same committee. This is supported 

by all WHO guidance