Dr Rebecca Tapscott, Senior Lecturer in International Relations, has written a blog post sharing her reflections on a two-day international workshop held at the University of Glasgow. The workshop brought together 20 scholars and practitioners involved in the regulation of social science research ethics to examine the current state of the field. The event incorporated global perspectives while also focusing on the specific context of ethics requirements in the UK.

Participants at Glasgow Ethics Workshop

The discussions centered on the challenges of applying a primarily biomedical, compliance-driven, and risk-averse regulatory model to address ethical issues in social science research. Participants explored why these challenges have persisted over time, why critiques have yet to lead to meaningful institutional reform—and, more concerningly, why countries and institutions around the world continue to implement new requirements that reproduce the same pathologies that are already well-known and documented.

The workshop highlighted that meaningful reforms are hindered by knowledge gaps, lack of infrastructure, limited investment in social sciences, and broader challenges in Higher Education. However, more moderate reforms, with some political will, are feasible and could reduce administrative burdens while fostering a more open approach to ethics beyond compliance.

The blog is available to read here (PDF)

The views expressed in this blog do not necessarily reflect the views of the Workshop Participants or Institution.

First published: 10 December 2024

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