Human Research Ethics Online Training

Beneficence:  Maximize benefit, Minimize risks

 The researcher must avoid risks or reduce them as much as possible. The researcher's priority should be the welfare of the participants in the research context.

Researchers, ethics committees, and research participants must make a calculation of the risks involved in participating in the research weighed against the potential benefits and knowledge to be gained. Any risk of harm or discomfort - or even inconvenience! - must be outweighed by the benefits to be gained by the research.

It is the responsibility of the researcher to ensure that benefits to research participants are optimal while the risks are reduced to a minimum.

Reference: Australian National Statement p.13-18.