Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 10, 2026
11:13
The Social Dimension of Stress: Experimental Manipulations of Social Support and Social Identity in the Trier Social Stress Test
Published on: November 19, 2015
Are ethical committees reliable?
Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine
|January 1, 1995
Summary
Local Research Ethical Committees (LREC) show high variability in their review process. A study found inconsistent modification demands across six committees, indicating a lack of standardization in ethical research review.
Area of Science:
- Medical Ethics
- Research Governance
Background:
- Local Research Ethical Committees (LRECs) play a crucial role in safeguarding research participants.
- Assessing the consistency of LREC reviews is vital for reliable ethical oversight.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the reliability and consistency of Local Research Ethical Committees (LRECs).
- To identify variations in ethical review processes among different LRECs.
Main Methods:
- A single, genuine research proposal was submitted to six different LRECs.
- Key outcome measures included the number of modifications requested and inter-committee agreement on these changes.
Main Results:
- All reviewed LRECs requested modifications to the research proposal.
- No two committees requested the same set of changes, highlighting significant divergence.
- The degree of agreement between committees on necessary modifications was notably low.
Conclusions:
- Local Research Ethical Committees (LRECs) exhibit substantial variability in their review and decision-making processes.
- The findings suggest a lack of standardization, potentially impacting the efficiency and uniformity of ethical research approval.
Keywords:
Biomedical and Behavioral Research
Related Concept Videos
01:56Ethics in Research
Today, scientists agree that good research is ethical in nature and is guided by a basic respect for human dignity and safety. However, this has not always been the case. Modern researchers must demonstrate that the research they perform is ethically sound.
01:29Reliability and Validity
Reliability and validity are two important considerations that must be made with any type of data collection. Reliability refers to the ability to consistently produce a given result. In the context of psychological research, this would mean that any instruments or tools used to collect data do so in consistent, reproducible ways.
01:08Obedience
According to obedience research, we may harm others under the forceful pressures of an authority figure (Milgram, 1974). How about if the inappropriate orders were delivered with less force? The increasing interdependence between nurses and physicians compelled Hofling and his colleagues to explore nurses’ reactions to a potentially harmful medical request made by the perceived authority figure, the doctor (Hofling, Brotzman, Dalrymple, Graves, & Pierce, 1966). In this situation, obedience...
00:52Social Proof
Social proof is a form of persuasion based on comparison and conformity. People compare their behavior and actions to what others are doing and will change to conform to do what their peers do.
01:22Ethics and Bioethics
Ethics is a philosophical study of moral actions. Ethics attempts to determine what is valuable for individuals and society. It examines the rational justification of moral judgments and analyzes what is morally just, fair, and right. Bioethics is a sub-discipline of applied ethics that analyzes the philosophical, social, and legal issues in life sciences and medicine. Ethical theories serve as a foundation for decision-making and represent the viewpoints from which people seek direction. They...
01:30Psychosurgery
Psychosurgery, the surgical alteration or permanent removal of brain tissue to alleviate severe psychological conditions, stands as one of the most radical and controversial treatments in the history of mental health care. Its development and application have evolved significantly, marked by dramatic shifts in scientific understanding and ethical perspectives.
Historical Development of Psychosurgery
In the 1930s, Portuguese neurologist Antonio Egas Moniz introduced a surgical procedure designed...
Historical Development of Psychosurgery
In the 1930s, Portuguese neurologist Antonio Egas Moniz introduced a surgical procedure designed...