Fitting a square peg in a round hole? A mixed-methods study on research ethics and collaborative health and social care research involving ‘vulnerable’ groups

This work provides further empirical evidence of how the research ethics system deals with collaborative research involving 'vulnerable' groups. It also offers practical recommendations to ensure that the collaborative dimension of such research receives proper ethical scrutiny, to introduce a degree of flexibility in research ethics processes and supporting documents, and to replace formal, one-off research ethics approvals with ongoing, situated, relational ethical processes and practices.

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
Health Research Policy and Systems
Published
2025-04-01
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12961-025-01290-3
Primary Topic
Delphi Technique in Research
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

Funders

Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

Fitting a square peg in a round hole? A mixed-methods study on research ethics and collaborative health and social care research involving ‘vulnerable’ groups

Mara Airoldi, Bridget Penhale, Jan R. Oyebode, Michael Clark et al.
Health Research Policy and Systems
Delphi Technique in Research
article

Fitting a square peg in a round hole? A mixed-methods study on research ethics and collaborative health and social care research involving ‘vulnerable’ groups

Mara Airoldi, Bridget Penhale, Jan R. Oyebode, Michael Clark, Nicholas Mays, James Rupert Fletcher, Martin Stevens, Andrea Capstick, Carol Rivas, Chiara De Poli, Annelieke Driessen, Amy M. Russell
article en

Abstract

This work provides further empirical evidence of how the research ethics system deals with collaborative research involving 'vulnerable' groups. It also offers practical recommendations to ensure that the collaborative dimension of such research receives proper ethical scrutiny, to introduce a degree of flexibility in research ethics processes and supporting documents, and to replace formal, one-off research ethics approvals with ongoing, situated, relational ethical processes and practices.

Health Research Policy and SystemsVol. 23(1)
University of East Anglia (GB), University of Leeds (GB), University of Bradford (GB), King's College London (GB), University of Oxford (GB), London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (GB), University College London (GB), University of Bath (GB), University of Amsterdam (NL), London School of Economics and Political Science (GB)
Wellcome Trust, Health Foundation, School for Social Care Research, Health Services and Delivery Research Programme
Openalex Percentile: Top 92%
Delphi Technique in Research
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.