Introduction to Research Ethics Training Curriculum

How to Use
this Curriculum

Getting Started

How to Use This Curriculum

This Research Ethics Training Curriculum is designed to engage the learner. Adult learning and retention improves when the learner participates actively in the learning process. The Research Ethics Training Curriculum can be used as either an interactive self-study program or as a participatory, group training experience. It is expected that completing this curriculum will take approximately 4 hours. If you are facilitating a group training experience, please use your browser’s back button and choose the Presenter option on the previous screen.

The self study curriculum is divided into four sections:

• Contents

• Case Studies

• Post Testing

• References

The Contents section is composed of illustrative graphics and narrative text. At times, the narrative is followed by a shaded box labeled “Learner Note.” Learner notes contain interactive questions or activities. Take the time to think about or to even write down your ideas to these questions. This will help you better retain the key messages of the curriculum. 

The Case Studies section provides eight reproductive health case studies followed by thought-provoking questions. The case studies help anchor the curriculum to the reality of designing and implementing research studies. These case studies address reproductive health ethical considerations and are based on actual situations encountered by researchers at Family Health International (FHI).

Five of these case studies are found in the Contents section of the curriculum; the other three case studies are found only in the Case Studies section. You will find some of the possible answers to the case studies by clicking on the corresponding links.

The Post Testing section includes an interactive post-test, an online answer key and a curriculum evaluation form. If you are interested in receiving a certificate of completion from FHI, you will need to return the Reader’s Evaluation form (given at the end of the Post Testing section) to FHI, as noted below.

The References section includes text of the 45CFR46 (Public Welfare and the Protection of Human Subjects of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations; the 1993 International Ethical Guidelines for Biomedical Research Involving Human Subjects; Operational Guidelines for Ethics Committees That Review Biomedical Research; The Belmont Report; The World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki; various Internet references; and a suggested bibliography.