Challenges to Research Ethics Regulations: Academic Researchers’ Voices in the Arab World

Makhoul, Jihad; Nakkash, Rima

doi:10.1007/978-3-319-65266-5_28

Cited by 4 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…The import of western ethics concepts and guidelines, seen as universal, from research intensive countries like the USA to the MENA region has been criticized, and calls have been made to adapt them to the Arab context (37). However, it is important to point out cultural underpinnings that may have prompted some of the responses given by the participants in our study.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Behind the scenes of research ethics committee oversight: a qualitative research study with committee chairs in the Middle East and North Africa region

Ashkar,

Nakkash,

Matar

et al. 2024

Preprint

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Background: Research cites shortcomings and challenges facing research ethics committees in many regions across the world including Arab countries. This paper presents findings from qualitative in-depth interviews with REC chairs to explore their views on the challenges they face in their work with the oversight of research involving human populations. Methods: Virtual in-depth interviews were conducted with chairs (n=11) from both biomedical and/or social-behavioral research ethics committees in six countries, transcribed, coded and subject to thematic analyses for recurring themes. Results: Two sets of recurring themes impede the work of the committees and pose concerns for the quality of the research applications: (1) procedures and committee level challenges such as heavy workload, variations in member qualification, impeding bureaucratic procedures, member overwork, and intersecting socio-cultural values in the review process; (2) inconsistencies in the researchers’ competence in applied research ethics revealed by the applications reviewed which is also informative about their methodological and research ethics competence. Conclusions: Narratives of REC chairs are important to shed light on experiences and issues that are not captured in surveys, adding to the body of knowledge with implications for the region, low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) in other parts of the world, and implications for international research collaborations.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Behind the scenes of research ethics committee oversight: a qualitative research study with committee chairs in the Middle East and North Africa region

Ashkar,

Nakkash,

Matar

et al. 2024

Preprint

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“…We developed a SEM for the purpose of this study with research conduct at the center, surrounded by factors at the university, country, regional, and global levels that include barriers or enablers for ethical research conduct [insert Figure 2]. Findings from previous research (Makhoul et al, 2014, 2018; Makhoul & Nakkash, 2017; Silverman, 2017) and the online desk review point to issues in research governance, guidelines, and resources. The interview guides for the FGDs and the IDIs were thus designed to explore this research ethics landscape and included questions about the barriers and enablers that researchers, research centers, and research ethics committees face at university, country, regional, and global levels while probing about trainings, guidelines, resources, donors, and agendas.…”

Section: Theoretical Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The lead team at AUB consisted of principle investigators and a research coordinator. Both principle investigators are professors with doctoral degrees in public health, are Lebanese with a good understanding of the region, are native Arabic speakers, and have extensive experience in conducting qualitative research and research around applied research ethics in the region (Makhoul et al, 2014, 2018; Makhoul & Nakkash, 2017; Nakkash et al, 2009, 2017). The research coordinator has an MA in Development Studies, is a native Arabic speaker, and has adequate theoretical and practical understanding of qualitative research methodologies after receiving further qualitative research training.…”

Section: Sampling and Recruitmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Qualitative Multi-Methods Research Protocol: Applied Research Ethics in the Middle East North Africa Region

Makhoul,

El Ashkar,

Nakkash

et al. 2023

International Journal of Qualitative Methods

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In generating new knowledge in all fields related to human subjects research, research ethics is key. The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has witnessed a remarkable increase in research involving human participants, but robust contextually relevant guidelines and local capacity to guide ethical research are lacking. The research protocol presented and discussed here represents the methodology used to assess the landscape of applied research ethics in the region from the narratives of several constituencies in the research process, namely researchers, research ethics committee chairs and directors of research institutions. The study is a three-year multi-phase, multi-method research which involved a sequence of phases starting with a desk review, writing country reports, focus groups, and in-depth interviews, followed by a regional survey. The lead research team worked with country teams in 6 sites in the MENA region to conduct the empirical research which will be described in detail and reflected on for rigor and challenges.

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Fostering a culture of qualitative research and scholarly publication in a leading university in the West Bank: a Palestinian-UK capacity-building collaboration

Affouneh

Wimpenny

Angelov

et al. 2023

Higher Education Research & Development

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Challenges to Research Ethics Regulations: Academic Researchers’ Voices in the Arab World

Cited by 4 publications

References 28 publications

Behind the scenes of research ethics committee oversight: a qualitative research study with committee chairs in the Middle East and North Africa region

Behind the scenes of research ethics committee oversight: a qualitative research study with committee chairs in the Middle East and North Africa region

A Qualitative Multi-Methods Research Protocol: Applied Research Ethics in the Middle East North Africa Region

Fostering a culture of qualitative research and scholarly publication in a leading university in the West Bank: a Palestinian-UK capacity-building collaboration

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