The purpose of the Research Ethics on the Ground project is to identify ethical issues, challenges, and practices experienced by researchers engaged in collaborative development partnerships related to population health. The intent is to draw from the experiences of individuals engaged in international research collaborations to identify lessons for future initiatives, especially with respect to strategies to address the inherent struggles and challenges of such work.

         1.     a textual analysis of project websites, application materials, progress reports, and written communications with research ethics review boards from a set of                   international research collaborations; and

         2.      detailed case studies of three selected projects, involving on-site fieldwork over a 2-week period and interviews with team members.

As a team of researchers, we are interested in the ways research collaborators address research ethics as preparatory work undertaken at a distance from the field, and how they experience research ethics on the ground, that is, the ethical issues and challenges they face as their research unfolds over time. We intend to draw attention to a range of ethical considerations associated with the treatment of research participants, interactions with research collaborators, work within institutional structures, and the day-to-day practices of undertaking health research as part of an international collaboration.
Anticipated completion of the Research Ethics on the Ground project is December 2012. Please continue to watch this site for new information over time. If you have questions or comments, please contact Michelle McGinn.