TCPS Ethics Quiz

Participation in research is a choice, based on information about the risks and potential benefits of the research.

A1-1. Which one of the following statements reflects the TCPS 2 core principle of Respect for Persons?

- Participation in research is a choice, based on information about the risks and potential benefits of the research.

- Research should be designed so as to avoid exposing participants to unnecessary risks.

- Research studies should be designed so that the burdens and the potential benefits of the research are distributed fairly.

- A graduate student at an eligible Canadian college conducting self-funded research on political protest groups by interviewing members of those groups.

- A professor at an eligible Canadian university who is conducting research in Brazil on educational initiatives involving Indigenous Peoples.

- A researcher at an eligible academic institution conducts research within that institution that is funded by their department, not the Agencies;

- A master's student at an eligible institution conducts their research with street youth, not on the premises of the institution;

A1-2. Which of the following researchers must follow the TCPS 2 (select all that apply)?

- A graduate student at an eligible Canadian college conducting self-funded research on political protest groups by interviewing members of those groups.

- A professor at an eligible Canadian university who is conducting research in Brazil on educational initiatives involving Indigenous Peoples.

- An independent researcher hired by a private company to conduct research on consumer brand loyalties.

- A researcher at an eligible academic institution conducts research within that institution that is funded by their department, not the Agencies;

- A master's student at an eligible institution conducts their research with street youth, not on the premises of the institution;

- A graduate student at an eligible Canadian university who has a grant from NSERC to conduct research on the link between climate change and the bee population.

- The researcher's institution may take action under the institution's policies.

- SSHRC may take recourse that can range from a letter of awareness to a denial of eligibility for funding, depending on the seriousness of the breach.

A1-3. What happens if a researcher with a SSHRC grant breaches the TCPS 2 when conducting their research (select all that apply)?

- The TCPS 2 is a voluntary set of guidelines, so there are no consequences for a breach.

- The researcher's institution may take action under the institution's policies.

- SSHRC may take recourse that can range from a letter of awareness to a denial of eligibility for funding, depending on the seriousness of the breach.

Respect for human dignity

A1-4. What is the fundamental value upon which the TCPS 2 is based?

- Do no harm.

- All persons are created equal.

- Respect for human dignity

- Autonomy

- Consult with colleagues, disciplinary associations, or lawyers, to determine how best to resolve the conflict

- Anticipate potential conflicts and design research to avoid them, where possible.

A1-5. How should a researcher resolve a potential conflict between ethics considerations and legal obligations (select all that apply)?

- Consult with colleagues, disciplinary associations, or lawyers, to determine how best to resolve the conflict

- Fulfil the ethical obligations - they have more moral weight.

- Follow the law - it always takes precedence over ethics

- Anticipate potential conflicts and design research to avoid them, where possible.

- Professor A designs a pilot study to address that research question, and gets a small group of individuals to take part in the study.

- Professor A revises the study based on their experience with the pilot study participants, and administers the full study to a group of 100 participants.

A2-1. The TCPS 2 defines research as "an undertaking intended to extend knowledge through a disciplined inquiry and/or systematic investigation". Which of the following activities fall within this definition (select all that apply)?

- Professor A meets with colleagues in their department to discuss a research question of interest to them, with a view to refining the question.

- Professor A meets with representatives of a community to discuss conducting research within that community on the topic they discussed with their colleagues.

- Professor A designs a pilot study to address that research question, and gets a small group of individuals to take part in the study.

- Professor A revises the study based on their experience with the pilot study participants, and administers the full study to a group of 100 participants.

- A patient with a particular condition whose tissue was removed to help scientists better understand that condition and how to treat it.

- That same college employee responding to a survey from a labour relations professor aimed at measuring job satisfaction in unionized vs non-unionized academic staff.

A2-2. which of the following person is considered a research participant (select all that apply)?

- A patient whose tissue was removed to determine whether they had a condition requiring treatment.

- A patient with a particular condition whose tissue was removed to help scientists better understand that condition and how to treat it.

- An employee of a college who must fill out a job satisfaction survey anonymously for the Human Resources department.

- That same college employee responding to a survey from a labour relations professor aimed at measuring job satisfaction in unionized vs non-unionized academic staff.

- Is exempt from REB review.

A2-3. Complete the following sentence: "Under TCPS 2, research that relies exclusively on information that is publicly accessible and for which there is no reasonable expectation of privacy _________."

- Requires REB review.

- Is exempt from REB review.

- May require REB review, depending on the circumstances.

- The ethics of research involving humans.

A2-4. Under TCPS 2, it is the role of the REB to review:

- The ethics of mandated quality assurance activities.

- The ethics of animal and human research.

- The ethics of research involving humans.

- Direct benefits to the participants

- Benefits to the group or community to which the participant belongs

- Benefits to society in the form of increased knowledge

A3-1. REBs may consider the following as potential benefits of research (select all that apply).

- Direct benefits to the participants

- Benefits to the researcher in terms of career advancement

- Benefits to the group or community to which the participant belongs

- Benefits to society in the form of increased knowledge

- All the risks associated with the research

A3-2. Choose the correct description of research-attributable risks, according to TCPS 2:

- All the risks a participant is exposed to during the period of the research

- All the risks a participant is ordinarily exposed to, plus any risks specific to the research

- All the risks associated with the research

- Economic harm

- Social harm

- Psychological harm

- Physical harm

A3-3. Which types of possible harms may be considered research risks (select all that apply)?

- Economic harm

- Social harm

- Psychological harm

- Physical harm

- The distinction helps the REB to determine the appropriate level of ethics review.

A3-4. What is the purpose of distinguishing between minimal risk research and research that is more than minimal risk?

- Minimal risk research does not require REB review.

- The distinction helps the REB to determine the appropriate level of ethics review.

- The distinction serves only to categorize the types of research proposal the REB receives.

- Voluntary, informed, ongoing.

A4-1. What are the general principles of consent?

- Informed, ongoing, documented.

- Voluntary, informed, ongoing.

- Voluntary, informed, free.

- Voluntary, informed, documented.

- Prior to commencing participation in the research.

A4-2. In general, when should researchers seek consent from individuals to participate in research?

- At any time during the course of the research.

- After the participant has completed the research activity.

- Prior to commencing participation in the research.

- Whenever the researcher chooses.

- Through any form that can serve as evidence of consent and that complies with applicable legal requirements.

A4-3. Which of the following best describes how consent should be documented?

- Only through a signed consent form

- Only through a video recording of consent

- Only through a researcher's notes of a verbal consent.

- Through any form that can serve as evidence of consent and that complies with applicable legal requirements.

- When a prospective participant lacks decision-making capacity.

- In medical emergencies

- For certain types of public health research.

A4-4. Under which of the following circumstances may a researcher depart from the general principles of consent (select all that apply)?

- When obtaining consent would delay the conduct of the research.

- When a prospective participant lacks decision-making capacity.

- Under no circumstances.

- In medical emergencies

- For certain types of public health research.

- Secondary use research involves using data that was originally collected for another purpose.

- REBs may waive the consent requirement for research involving secondary use of identifiable information if the researcher satisfies six conditions.

A4-5. Which of the following statements is/are true (select all that apply)?

- Secondary use research involves using data that was originally collected for another purpose.

- Research involving secondary use of identifiable information requires REB review, but not consent.

- REBs may waive the consent requirement for research involving secondary use of identifiable information, at their discretion.

- REBs may waive the consent requirement for research involving secondary use of identifiable information if the researcher satisfies six conditions.

- Where research involves the secondary use of non-identifiable information, neither consent nor REB review is required.

- Ethically unacceptable, unless the exclusion is related to the nature and scope of the research question.

A5-1. Complete the following sentence in accordance with the guidance in TCPS 2: "Excluding women from research is ___________."

- Never ethically acceptable.

- Ethically acceptable because this protects women from the risks of research.

- Ethically unacceptable, unless the exclusion is related to the nature and scope of the research question.

- Ethically necessary when a woman is pregnant or breastfeeding.

- It is important to communicate research results to participants, in a format suitable to them.

- Researchers have a responsibility to disseminate the results of their research, even if those results do not confirm (or run counter to) their original hypothesis.

A5-2. Which of the following statements reflect TCPS 2 guidance (select all that apply)?

- Publication in an academic journal is the only acceptable form of research dissemination.

- It is important to communicate research results to participants, in a format suitable to them.

- Researchers have a responsibility to disseminate the results of their research, even if those results do not confirm (or run counter to) their original hypothesis.

- It is ethically acceptable for sponsors to prohibit the dissemination of results at their discretion, since they paid for the research.

- Yes, so long as their participation is necessary to the research and additional protective measures are in place.

A5-3. Under TCPS 2, can individuals who are in vulnerable circumstances participate in research?

- Yes, so long as their participation is necessary to the research and additional protective measures are in place.

- No, it is wrong to include vulnerable individuals in research.

- Yes, all that matters is that they have the capacity to consent.

- No, those in vulnerable circumstances cannot participate in research even if the research focus is on people in their circumstances.

- This helps to maintain public trust in research.

- This contributes to the legitimacy of research results by ensuring that research findings are drawn from the full range of those to whom the research applies.

- This avoids disadvantaged or marginalized groups from bearing a disproportionate share of research risks.

A5-4. The principle of Justice requires an equitable distribution of the benefits and burdens of research because (select all that apply):

- This helps to maintain public trust in research.

- This contributes to the legitimacy of research results by ensuring that research findings are drawn from the full range of those to whom the research applies.

- This avoids disadvantaged or marginalized groups from bearing a disproportionate share of research risks.

- Researchers have an ethical duty to maintain the confidentiality of information they collect during the course of research.

- A researcher's duty of confidentiality extends to human biological materials collected during the course of research.

- Researchers may have legal obligations to maintain the privacy of research participants.

A6-1. Which of the following statements is correct (select all that apply)?

- Researchers have an ethical duty to maintain the confidentiality of information they collect during the course of research.

- A researcher's duty of confidentiality extends to human biological materials collected during the course of research.

- Researchers may have legal obligations to maintain the privacy of research participants.

- Research that relies on information originally collected for a purpose other than the current research purpose.

A6-2. Secondary use research is:

- Research that generates at least two publications.

- Original research that is copied by a second researcher.

- Research that relies on information originally collected for a purpose other than the current research purpose.

- Researchers, REBs, and institutions.

A6-3. Who has responsibility for safeguarding the privacy of research participants (select the most appropriate answer):

- Researchers alone.

- Researchers and REBs.

- Researchers, REBs, and institutions.

- Researchers, REBs, institutions, and funders.

- Secret information.

A6-4. The level of privacy protection required is based on the identifiability of the information. Which of the following is not a category of identifiability set out in the TCPS 2?

- Indirectly identifying information.

- Anonymized information.

- Coded information.

- Secret information.

- Anonymous information.

- Researchers, REB members, and institutions.

A7-1. In research, conflict of interest is an issue that can affect (select the most appropriate answer):

- Researchers

- Researchers and REB members.

- Researchers, REB members, and institutions.

- Researchers and institutions.

- REB members and institutions.

- Conflicts of interest may be real, potential, or perceived.

- A conflict of interest in research is an incompatibility between all of one's duties, responsibilities, or interests, as they relate to the ethical conduct of research.

A7-2. Which of the following statements is/are true (select all that apply)?

- Conflicts of interest may be real, potential, or perceived.

- Only real conflicts of interest need to be managed.

- A research study cannot proceed if a researcher has disclosed a conflict of interest.

- A conflict of interest in research is an incompatibility between all of one's duties, responsibilities, or interests, as they relate to the ethical conduct of research.

- Researchers may choose whether or not to disclose conflicts of interest.

- REB members supervise the researcher submitting the protocol for REB review.

- REB members sit on the board of the company that is sponsoring the research.

- REB members are collaborating with the research applicant on another research project.

- The research applicant is their sister-in-law.

- The research applicant is their supervisor.

- REB members own shares in the company that is sponsoring the research.

A7-3. Which of the following would be a conflict of interest for REB members (select all that apply)?

- REB members supervise the researcher submitting the protocol for REB review.

- REB members sit on the board of the company that is sponsoring the research.

- REB members are collaborating with the research applicant on another research project.

- The research applicant is their sister-in-law.

- The research applicant is their supervisor.

- REB members own shares in the company that is sponsoring the research.

- Develop a plan to minimize the effect of the conflict.

- Disclose to the REB and to participants.

A7-4. Which of the following is/are an acceptable way for a researcher to manage a conflict of interest (select all that apply)?

- Disclose the conflict to a colleague at another institution.

- Develop a plan to minimize the effect of the conflict.

- Decide to remain impartial.

- Disclose to the REB and to participants.

- Keep silent, but be prepared to step off the research team if the conflict is discovered.

- It helps to protect the integrity of research.

- It is part of the process of ensuring that prospective research participants make informed decisions regarding their consent to participate.

A7-5. Addressing conflicts of interest in research involving humans is important because (select all that apply):

- It helps to protect the integrity of research.

- It is part of the process of ensuring that prospective research participants make informed decisions regarding their consent to participate.

- It makes researchers feel virtuous.

- All conflicts of interest can and must be eliminated.

- To provide advice about alternative methods to answer the research question.

A8-1. Which of the following activities is not a primary responsibility of an REB?

- To review the ethical acceptability of the methods of a research proposal.

- To review the ethical acceptability of the design of a research proposal.

- To review substantive changes made to the research during the course of a study.

- To provide advice about alternative methods to answer the research question.

- To communicate their decisions in a timely and efficient manner.

- A committee accountable to the institution that created it with respect to its operations, but independent with respect to its decisions on research proposals.

A8-2. Which one of the following statements best describes the status of an REB?

- A committee accountable in all respects to the institution that created it.

- A committee accountable to the institution that created it with respect to its operations, but independent with respect to its decisions on research proposals.

- A committee independent in all respects from the institution that created it.

- To represent the research participant perspective.

A8-3. What is the primary role of the community member on an REB?

- To bring diversity to the REB.

- To provide an independent perspective on the proposed research.

- To represent the research participant perspective.

- To ensure that not all REB members are academics.

- Applying delegated review to minimal risk research and full board review to more than minimal risk research.

- Considering the foreseeable risks, the potential benefits and the ethics implications of the research.

- Conducting an initial assessment of the level of risk to determine what level of scrutiny the review requires.

A8-4. Which of the following statements describe(s) a proportionate approach to assessing the ethical acceptability of research (select all that apply)?

- Applying delegated review to minimal risk research and full board review to more than minimal risk research.

- Considering the foreseeable risks, the potential benefits and the ethics implications of the research.

- Having only the vice-president of research review minimal risk research.

- Conducting an initial assessment of the level of risk to determine what level of scrutiny the review requires.

- Institutions and REBs should develop preparedness plans for how to review research during public declared emergencies.

- Any exceptional procedures put in place during a publicly declared emergency remain in force only as long as the emergency continues.

A8-5. Which of the following statements is/are correct (select all that apply)?

- Due to the extraordinary circumstances, research cannot take place during a publicly declared emergency.

- Institutions and REBs should develop preparedness plans for how to review research during public declared emergencies.

- No exceptions to TCPS 2 procedures can occur during a publicly declared emergency, regardless of the justification provided.

- Any exceptional procedures put in place during a publicly declared emergency remain in force only as long as the emergency continues.