Purpose
GARC seeks to ensure that research involving people, personal information, communities, or sensitive topics is conducted responsibly and with appropriate respect for rights, dignity, welfare, privacy, and autonomy.
Core Ethical Principles
GARC research should reflect:
- respect for persons;
- informed and voluntary participation;
- proportionality between research value and potential risk;
- minimization of avoidable harm;
- privacy and confidentiality;
- accessibility and inclusion;
- fairness in participant selection;
- sensitivity to individual and cultural circumstances;
- special consideration for children and people who may require additional protections.
Informed Consent
Where informed consent is required, participants should receive information that is understandable and appropriate to the nature of the research.
Information should normally explain:
- the purpose of the activity;
- what participation involves;
- foreseeable risks or burdens;
- relevant benefits, where applicable;
- how information will be used;
- confidentiality arrangements;
- whether participation is voluntary;
- applicable withdrawal arrangements;
- how questions or concerns may be raised.
Autism Research
GARC recognizes the importance of respectful and meaningful engagement with autistic people, families, caregivers, professionals, researchers, and relevant communities.
Where appropriate, research design should consider accessibility, communication preferences, sensory needs, participation burden, and opportunities for meaningful involvement.
Children and Participants Requiring Additional Protection
Research involving children or people requiring additional safeguards must receive proportionate ethical consideration.
Consent, assent, parental or guardian involvement, capacity, communication, safeguarding, and risk controls should be addressed according to applicable requirements and the circumstances of the project.
Formal Ethics Approval
GARC's internal institutional review does not replace formal external ethics approval where such approval is required.
Where a project requires approval from an authorized research ethics committee, university, healthcare institution, regulator, or other competent body, the appropriate approval must be obtained before activities requiring that approval begin.
Ethical Concerns
Significant ethical concerns may result in a project being modified, suspended, escalated, or discontinued.
GARC reserves the right not to participate in research that it considers inconsistent with its ethical principles.