Human Research Ethics Online Training

The Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies released a set of Guidelines for Ethical Research in Indigenous Studies in May 2000. They establish the following 11 principles of ethical research:

A. Consultation, negotiation and mutual understanding 

1. Consultation, negotiation and free and informed consent are the foundations for research with or about Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait  Islander peoples. 
2. The responsibility for consultation and negotiation is ongoing. 
3. Consultation and negotiation should achieve mutual understanding about the proposed research.

B. Respect, recognition and involvement 

1. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge systems and processes must be respected. 
2. There must be recognition of the diversity and uniqueness of peoples as well as of individuals. 
3. The intellectual and cultural property rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples must be respected and preserved. 
4. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander researchers, individuals and communities should be involved in research as collaborators.

C. Benefits, outcomes and agreement

1. The use of, and access to, research results should be agreed. 
2. A researched community should benefit from, and not be disadvantaged by, the research project.
3. The negotiation of outcomes should include results specific to the needs of the researched community. 
4. Negotiation should result in a formal agreement for the conduct of a research project, based on good faith and free and   informed consent.

Source: Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies, 2000.  Guidelines for Ethical Research in Indigenous Studies, p.3-5. Available online at http://www.aiatsis.gov.au/research/docs/ethics.pdf  retrieved 11 March 2010. Explanation and guidelines for implementation are found in the original document.

Aboriginal flag. Photo by Clive Stacey. Copyright Creative Commons, some rights reserved.