Broadening Core Research Ethics Principles: Insights from Research Conducted with Black Communities

Abstract

Drawing from a 2023 symposium panel that focused on conducting health equity research with Black communities, we propose to expand our interpretation of core research ethics principles. In light of a surge of research conducted in Black diasporic communities since the 2020 killing of George Floyd, the symposium sought to enhance the quality and impact of research involving Black Canadians. We contend that by broadening the interpretation and application of respect for persons, beneficence, and justice, researchers will conduct impactful and transformative research projects that foster health equity. We emphasize the importance of not limiting the core principle of respect for persons to individual participants but to extend it to communities throughout the research process. Furthermore, we suggest that researchers can deepen their commitment to the core principle of beneficence or concern for welfare and design relevant and empowering research projects through meaningful community involvement. We highlight that to further the implementation of the core principle of justice, scholars should adopt a human development approach and mobilize innovative outreach recruitment strategies to ensure that Black communities have the opportunity to participate in biomedical and public health research while also benefiting from the knowledge produced.