logo
logo
Sign in

Understand Some Key Principles In The Field Of Human Subject Research

avatar
John Carter
Understand Some Key Principles In The Field Of Human Subject Research

This article is dedicated to understanding and spread awareness and knowledge in the field of human subject research and the aspects of protecting the participants. In this field, it is very important to train and sensitize the researchers as well as the participants with respect to some key concepts pertaining to the mode of conduct. The idea is to make the research not just efficient and effective, but also safe. This article helps one in the process by throwing light upon the basics, and to that end, we have tried to answer some of the key questions and queries which envelops ‘Research’ involving human subjects.


What is Research? Research can be defined as an organised and systematized investigation which aims to find the truth pertaining to specific phenomena, or specific realm, with the aim of generating and contributing to generalisable knowledge. It can be also aimed at designing and developing new knowledge and knowledge systems. It is important for one to note that research can be an enquiry into the existing sets of knowledge systems as well. Research is an umbrella term and can include a range of activities in varying fields of knowledge and schools of thoughts and disciplines. It can include activities such as development, testing, evaluating, monitoring, enquiry, etc. The aim of research is usually creation, correction, modification and most importantly, improvement and discovery.


What is a Human Subject? The Human Subject is basically a living human being, or an individual which is the subject of some sort of investigation (depending upon the field or discipline of knowledge). It is someone on whom the researcher (who is the investigator) conducts the research or investigation. The objective of this is usually collection of data, through interaction with the human subject- can be both direct as well as indirect-, and intervention. Personal data, private information, and biospecimens can also be retrieved from the human subject, as a part of the research process.


How do we understand the concept of ‘Minimal Risk’? According to the concept of minimal risk, the magnitude, degree and the possibility of harm or discomfort (physical or mental) to the participants in research (the human subjects) should not exceed the possibility, magnitude, degree and risk to the individual (and the general population) ordinarily encountered in his/her everyday life, or the during the conduction of a general physical test or medical examination.


What is the concept of ‘Privacy’ in the context of research involving human subjects or participants?

Privacy in this context simply means, free from intrusions which are not sanctioned, decreed or permitted. Privacy becomes a very important and critical factor in these research and institutions must be particularly aware and considerate with this aspect. For human subject research consider Learn Core


John Carter is the author of this article.For further detail about Human Subject Research please visit the website.

collect
0
avatar
John Carter
guide
Zupyak is the world’s largest content marketing community, with over 400 000 members and 3 million articles. Explore and get your content discovered.
Read more