The Reality of International Research Ethics Policies in a Post-Covid World

• In Event: Ethical challenges in qualitative research: feminist, decolonial and bottom-up paths toward change

Abstract

Myriad technological advances and the proliferation of internet access globally have spurred new
opportunities for research to be conducted remotely. These opportunities were highlighted during
the COVID-19 Pandemic as researchers began to lean more on virtual surveys and conferencing
software (such as Zoom) to collect data and conduct research. Moreover, research analysis
software is increasingly moving to the cloud, allowing for seamless collaboration that can occur
in real-time. These advancements in technology afford opportunities for the “globalization of
research” as they allow for the formation of cheaper, more efficient international research
initiatives and for data collection efforts to expand beyond national borders. However, local
policies concerning research ethics have lagged behind and therefore stymied possibilities for
participation in global research initiatives. Therefore, the current study aims to describe the
existing state of research ethics policies in North American, European, and South American
countries as they pertain to remote research being conducted by outside investigators. Relying on
secondary data obtained from universities, research centers, research ethics commissions,
governments, and other related organizations; this study considers factors related to the logistics
of conducting research including fees, research permits, and ethics approval processes specific to
remote research. In short, the goal is to understand how each country in the sampling frame
permits and facilitates remote research conducted with local subjects by foreign researchers.
Findings from this study should be a resource to those who seek to navigate the legal and
administrative barriers to conducting remote research in other countries and will propose policy
implications that might help facilitate efficient and ethical research globalization of research.
Moreover, it should enhance researchers' ability to engage with diverse communities while
addressing unique socio-cultural nuances about the human condition.

Author

• Madeline DeVito, SUNY Oswego