Mini course · Foundation level
Research Ethics & IRB Basics
Protect research participants, and get your study through ethics review smoothly.
What is Research Ethics & IRB Basics?
All research involving people must protect participants' rights, safety and wellbeing. Ethics committees, also called institutional review boards, review studies before they begin. This course covers the history and principles of research ethics, informed consent for research, vulnerable participants, risk-benefit assessment, privacy and data protection, the ethics review process and common reasons applications are delayed.
- Duration
- 1 hour
- Lessons
- 4
- Level
- Foundation
- Format
- Online, self-paced
What you'll be able to do
- Explain the core principles of research ethics
- Identify the elements of valid research informed consent
- Recognise additional protections needed for vulnerable participants
- Assess risks and benefits for a described study
- Apply privacy and data protection principles to research data
- Prepare an ethics application that avoids common problems
Who this course is for
Course content
4 lessons · 1 hour total · free preview available
1Why Research Ethics Exist
14 minFree preview· Course content
Why Research Ethics Exist
Historical lessons and core principles.
2Consent and Vulnerable Participants
16 min· Course content
Consent and Vulnerable Participants
Available after you enroll.
3Risk, Benefit and Privacy
16 min· Course content
Risk, Benefit and Privacy
Available after you enroll.
4The Ethics Review Process
14 min· Course content
The Ethics Review Process
Available after you enroll.
Earn a credential employers can check
Every AIHCM credential has a unique ID that anyone can verify online in seconds.
Issued: on completion
How it works
- Finish all 4 lessons at your own pace.
- Get your digital credential with a unique ID.
- Share it — employers can verify it at aihcm.us.
Questions people ask
Does this replace Good Clinical Practice (GCP) training?
No. GCP is a specific requirement for clinical trials.
Do quality improvement projects need ethics approval?
Sometimes. The course explains how to tell, but follow your organisation's governance rules.
Are templates included?
Yes, including a participant information sheet and consent form.
Is it relevant for student research?
Yes. Student projects also require ethical review.