review. Special consideration is required for conduct
of research and innovation involving vulnerable populations, human biology, intrusive procedures, use of
human tissues, experimental human psychology, and
use of animals in experiments. It may also be new data
from human participants e.g. interview, observation,
original survey; analysis of secondary data especially
where data has not been anonymised, including any
record showing date of birth. Furthermore, data whose
outcome has implications for an identifiable group of
people such as use of human genetic data in estimating
genetic potential for disease in an identifiable group
of living people is also within the purview of special
ethical review.
The ethical review of any research or innovation
should be guided by Standard Operating Procedures.
Figure 1 outlines the core stages in the ethical review
process for all research. The focus of the research
ethics committee spans across various elements of a
research protocol (Wasunna & Bukusi 2014). From the
research background analysis, scientific question(s)
and/or a hypothesis should be postulated so as to
advance science. Further to this, the research design
and methodology is scrutinised for ethical issues. In
case of research involving human participants, the
REC must review the inclusion and exclusion criteria, study procedures, statistical validation of the
sample size, study population, and analytical plan
for assessing results. The location(s) where research
will be conducted, as well as the duration of the
proposed research study is not only important for justification for the site selection but also monitoring.
Adequate description of the process of conducting
research including the work plan and the resources,
Figure 1. The ethical review process of a research or innovation protocol. (Conceptualised from Kruger, et al. 2014).
such as the funds, equipment and facilities required
are part of the quality assessments. Lastly the data
management including the description of the statistical
analysis plan are essential in supporting the production
of statistically valid conclusions.
6 GOVERNANCE ISSUES IN RESEARCH AND
INNOVATION
The application of advances in science, technology and
innovation after successful research phase is a complex, open-ended and unpredictable process. Although
risks and side-effects may not always be anticipated,
ethical blindness should always be avoided at all costs.
Responsible governance that deals thoroughly and
proactively with potential hazards and other ethical
concerns, is a good strategy in promoting the positive
developments to be expected. Functional governance
structure is essential to regulate societal implications
of science, technology and innovation. However, this
can only work if there is sufficient ethical knowledge
and understanding of the content of the said research
innovations (Strand & Kaiser 2015).
Guided by core values and responsibility to the
public and organizations that support research, knowledge institutions should establish mechanism through
which research can be regulated on ethical matters.
One of the means through which this can be achieved
is through setting up institutional research ethics committees or ethics review boards. Where possible there
should be a research integrity office with clear policies
and codes of conduct for researchers and innovators. The establishment is such structures will not
only protect the image of the institution but also the
15
of research and innovation involving vulnerable populations, human biology, intrusive procedures, use of
human tissues, experimental human psychology, and
use of animals in experiments. It may also be new data
from human participants e.g. interview, observation,
original survey; analysis of secondary data especially
where data has not been anonymised, including any
record showing date of birth. Furthermore, data whose
outcome has implications for an identifiable group of
people such as use of human genetic data in estimating
genetic potential for disease in an identifiable group
of living people is also within the purview of special
ethical review.
The ethical review of any research or innovation
should be guided by Standard Operating Procedures.
Figure 1 outlines the core stages in the ethical review
process for all research. The focus of the research
ethics committee spans across various elements of a
research protocol (Wasunna & Bukusi 2014). From the
research background analysis, scientific question(s)
and/or a hypothesis should be postulated so as to
advance science. Further to this, the research design
and methodology is scrutinised for ethical issues. In
case of research involving human participants, the
REC must review the inclusion and exclusion criteria, study procedures, statistical validation of the
sample size, study population, and analytical plan
for assessing results. The location(s) where research
will be conducted, as well as the duration of the
proposed research study is not only important for justification for the site selection but also monitoring.
Adequate description of the process of conducting
research including the work plan and the resources,
Figure 1. The ethical review process of a research or innovation protocol. (Conceptualised from Kruger, et al. 2014).
such as the funds, equipment and facilities required
are part of the quality assessments. Lastly the data
management including the description of the statistical
analysis plan are essential in supporting the production
of statistically valid conclusions.
6 GOVERNANCE ISSUES IN RESEARCH AND
INNOVATION
The application of advances in science, technology and
innovation after successful research phase is a complex, open-ended and unpredictable process. Although
risks and side-effects may not always be anticipated,
ethical blindness should always be avoided at all costs.
Responsible governance that deals thoroughly and
proactively with potential hazards and other ethical
concerns, is a good strategy in promoting the positive
developments to be expected. Functional governance
structure is essential to regulate societal implications
of science, technology and innovation. However, this
can only work if there is sufficient ethical knowledge
and understanding of the content of the said research
innovations (Strand & Kaiser 2015).
Guided by core values and responsibility to the
public and organizations that support research, knowledge institutions should establish mechanism through
which research can be regulated on ethical matters.
One of the means through which this can be achieved
is through setting up institutional research ethics committees or ethics review boards. Where possible there
should be a research integrity office with clear policies
and codes of conduct for researchers and innovators. The establishment is such structures will not
only protect the image of the institution but also the
15