The Challenges of Big Data for Research Ethics Committees: A Qualitative Swiss Study
OPEN ACCESS
Loading...
Author / Producer
Date
2021-02-01
Publication Type
Journal Article
ETH Bibliography
yes
Citations
Altmetric
OPEN ACCESS
Data
Abstract
Big data trends in health research challenge the oversight mechanism of the Research Ethics Committees (RECs). The traditional standards of research quality and the mandate of RECs illuminate deficits in facing the computational complexity, methodological novelty, and limited auditability of these approaches. To better understand the challenges facing RECs, we explored the perspectives and attitudes of the members of the seven Swiss Cantonal RECs via semi-structured qualitative interviews. Our interviews reveal limited experience among REC members with the review of big data research, insufficient expertise in data science, and uncertainty about how to mitigate big data research risks. Nonetheless, RECs could strengthen their oversight by training in data science and big data ethics, complementing their role with external experts and ad hoc boards, and introducing precise shared practices.
Permanent link
Publication status
published
External links
Editor
Book title
Volume
17 (1-2)
Pages / Article No.
129 - 143
Publisher
University of California Press
Event
Edition / version
Methods
Software
Geographic location
Date collected
Date created
Subject
Big data; Research ethics; Ethics; IRBs; Biomedical research; Responsible research
Organisational unit
09614 - Vayena, Eftychia / Vayena, Eftychia
Notes
Funding
167223 - BEHALF - Bigdata-Ethics-HeaLth Framework (SNF)