Research ethics policy

Policy Statement:

The Ethical Research Policy of the American University of Madaba (AUM) underscores a commitment to the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and respect in all research endeavors. AUM prioritizes the welfare and rights of participants, promotes academic honesty, and ensures the responsible and ethical conduct of research across all disciplines. This policy serves as a guiding framework to foster a culture of ethical inquiry, accountability, and excellence within the university's academic community.

• Purpose:
  • This policy establishes a comprehensive framework to guide and promote ethical conduct in all research activities conducted at AUM. It aims to:
    • Safeguard the well-being of research participants.
    • Uphold the integrity of academic inquiry.
    • Foster a culture of responsible and ethical research practices.
  • Through a commitment to high ethical standards, this policy sets clear expectations for ethical conduct in all research endeavors within the academic community.
• Scope:
  • This policy applies to all research activities conducted under AUM's auspices, including faculty, researchers, students, and associated personnel. It addresses ethical considerations throughout the research lifecycle, including:
    • Proposal development
    • Data collection
    • Analysis and dissemination of findings
    • Overall management of research projects
  • By defining a broad scope, this policy ensures consistent, high ethical standards across all research disciplines and methodologies.
• Definitions:
  • Good Research Practice:
    • Good research practice encompasses recognized research ethics, including integrity, honesty, and openness. Ethical research entails:
      • Intellectual honesty.
      • Acceptance of personal responsibility.
      • Consideration of cultural, economic, psychological, physiological, political, religious, spiritual, and social implications for human participants before, during, and after research activities.
• Procedures:
  • Ethical Approval:
    • Researchers are responsible for identifying and mitigating risks, particularly in projects involving human subjects or personal data. They must:
      • Adhere to Research Good Practice and all relevant regulations.
      • Obtain necessary approvals from AUM’s Institutional Review Board (IRB) (sometimes called as Research Ethics Committee) and other authorities before commencing a research project.
  • Researcher Responsibilities:
    • Researchers must:
      • Abide by AUM policies on security, privacy, and other applicable regulations.
      • Comply with relevant legal, institutional, and professional standards.
      • Promptly report unexpected ethical concerns or risks to the IRB.
      • Obtain IRB approval for proposed changes to ongoing research projects, except in cases of immediate risk to participants.
• AUM Institutional Review Board Committee (IRB):
  • Composition:
    • The IRB consists of:
      • As approved by the |Jordanian Food and Drug Administration (JFDA).
• Role:
  • The IRB is responsible for reviewing research proposals submitted through formal applications to ensure compliance with ethical standards.