Our Ethics Policy for Research and Publication
To ensure compliance with human rights and data protection legislation all IDEAL work complies with ethical standards that are open to public scrutiny for Europe and for individual partner countries. We follow various sets of ethical guidelines appropriate to the nature of the research project including the European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity. We are confident that our work adheres to those ethical guidelines.
Further, we also meet European and individual countries standards regarding the use and storage of personal data including Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament also known as The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), concerning the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data. This was adapted into the UK GDPR, following the UK exit from Europe.
Individual partners also work to meet ethical standards relevant to their countries:
- United Kingdom: Work meet the ethical considerations including those of the British Psychological Society Code of Human Research Ethics and the Social Research Association Ethical Guidelines
- Italy: Follows the European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity: https://www.allea.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/ALLEA-European-Code-of-Conduct-for-Research-Integrity-2017.pdf
- Greece: All research from universities and institutions must follow a set process of ethical guidance: http://earthnet.ntua.gr/research-ethicsresearch-integrity-committees-in-greece/?lang=en
- Turkey: All research from universities and institutions must follow a set process of ethical guidance https://www.yok.gov.tr/Sayfalar/Kurumsal/mevzuat/bilimsel-arastirma-ve-etik-yonetmeligi.aspx
All the partners are committed to providing a fair and equitable service to all sections of the community regardless of race, gender, religion, marital status, sexual orientation, responsibilities for dependants, age disability or offending behaviour.
There are several key factors that determine the relative success (or failure) of our research.
Participants need to engage in the consultation process (this includes beneficiaries and stakeholders). One of the critical success factors rests on securing access to these groups. Having secured access there is a need to consult in a sensitive manner that reflects the make-up of the participating groups.
To ensure we achieve effective engagement the following themes are integral to our engagement model:
- Assuring the target group that the information that they provide is depersonalised and will not be used in a negative manner, and kept confidential
- Ensuring that the engagement process is culturally appropriate and sensitive
- Ascertaining that consultation methods are accessible and appropriate to each target group
- Using existing networks to ensure the confidence of the target group
- Where appropriate, engaging with people in familiar environments
- Ensuring that those engaged in consultation are offered feedback on the results of their involvement