Best examples of examples of research proposal ethical considerations (with real scenarios)

Examples of research proposal ethical considerations in real projects

Instead of starting with theory, let’s jump straight into concrete examples of research proposal ethical considerations you can adapt. I’ll walk through different study types and show you the kind of language ethics committees actually want to see.

1. Example of informed consent for a college student survey

Imagine you’re proposing a study on stress and sleep among first-year college students. One of the clearest examples of research proposal ethical considerations is how you describe informed consent.

You might write something like:

“Participants will receive a digital information sheet that explains the study purpose, procedures, time commitment (approximately 15 minutes), potential risks (mild discomfort when answering questions about stress), and benefits (reflection on personal habits and contribution to student wellness research). They will indicate consent by clicking ‘I agree to participate’ before accessing the survey. Participation is voluntary, and students may skip any question or withdraw at any time without penalty.”

Notice what’s happening here:

• You explain what participants are getting into.
• You name possible risks, even if they’re small.
• You emphasize that participation is voluntary.

This kind of clear consent language is one of the best examples of how to make your ethics section specific instead of vague.

2. Example of protecting confidentiality in a health-related study

Suppose your proposal focuses on adults managing Type 2 diabetes. You plan to collect data about medication use, diet, and blood sugar readings. Here, privacy is a big deal.

Your ethics section might say:

“All participant data will be de-identified at the point of collection. Each participant will be assigned a numeric code, and no names or direct identifiers will be stored with survey responses. The code key linking names to IDs will be kept in a password-protected file on an encrypted university server, accessible only to the principal investigator. Data will be reported only in aggregate form to prevent identification of individual participants.”

This is one of the clearest examples of examples of research proposal ethical considerations related to data security. You’re not just saying “we will keep data confidential”; you’re explaining how.

If you’re working with health information in the U.S., it’s smart to show awareness of privacy standards like HIPAA. You don’t need to write a legal essay, but you can nod to accepted guidelines. For example, the NIH and CDC both provide guidance on protecting research participants’ health data.

3. Example of minimizing risk in mental health research

Let’s say you’re studying anxiety and depression among high school students. This is a sensitive topic, and ethics reviewers will zoom in on how you handle distress.

You might include language like:

“Some survey items address symptoms of anxiety and depression, which may cause temporary emotional discomfort. To minimize risk, participants may skip any item they do not wish to answer. At the end of the survey, all participants will see a resource page with contact information for the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (988), local school counseling services, and online mental health resources. If a participant indicates severe distress on specific items, a standardized message will encourage them to seek support and will highlight school-based counseling options.”

This is one of the strongest examples of research proposal ethical considerations for higher-risk topics: you show that you’ve thought through what might go wrong, and you have a plan.

For up-to-date crisis information and referral language, many researchers now reference the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in U.S.-based proposals.

4. Examples of handling vulnerable populations in research proposals

Reviewers pay extra attention when your participants have less power or higher risk of harm. That can include children, older adults with cognitive decline, undocumented immigrants, patients in hospitals, or people in the criminal justice system.

Here are two real-feeling examples of examples of research proposal ethical considerations for vulnerable groups.

a) Research with children (ages 10–13)

“Because participants are minors, parental or guardian consent will be obtained before any data collection. Children will also provide age-appropriate assent using a simplified information sheet that explains the study in child-friendly language (e.g., ‘We want to learn about what kids think about their school lunches.’). Children may decline to participate even if their parent or guardian has provided consent, and they may stop at any time without consequences.”

This shows you understand the difference between consent (from the parent/guardian) and assent (from the child), which aligns with guidance from organizations like the Office for Human Research Protections.

b) Research with undocumented workers

“Because immigration status is highly sensitive, no questions will directly ask about participants’ legal status. Recruitment materials will state clearly that participation is voluntary and will not affect employment, legal status, or access to services. Interviews will be audio-recorded only with explicit permission, and identifying information (names, workplaces, locations) will be removed during transcription. Any quotations used in publications will be edited to avoid details that could reasonably identify participants.”

This is a powerful example of research proposal ethical considerations where the risk is not just emotional but legal and social.

5. Example of ethical considerations for online and social media research

More and more 2024–2025 proposals include data from social media platforms, online forums, or learning management systems. That creates ethical gray zones: just because something is publicly visible doesn’t mean it’s fair game to quote or analyze without thought.

Here’s how you might handle a study that analyzes public tweets about vaccine attitudes:

“The study will analyze publicly available posts on X (formerly Twitter) using the platform’s public API. Only posts from public accounts will be collected; private or protected accounts will be excluded. Usernames, profile photos, and URLs will be removed from the dataset, and any direct quotes included in publications will be paraphrased to prevent reverse identification through search engines. The study will comply with X’s current Terms of Service and institutional guidelines for internet research.”

This is one of the best examples of examples of research proposal ethical considerations in digital research because it balances scientific interest with respect for users’ expectations.

If you’re working in this space, many ethics boards now expect you to reference internet research guidance, such as resources discussed by universities like Harvard or major professional associations.

6. Example of ethical use of AI tools in research (a newer 2024–2025 concern)

A newer trend in 2024–2025: proposals that use AI tools for transcription, coding, or even drafting recruitment materials. That raises privacy and transparency questions.

Imagine you’re doing interviews with nurses about burnout and using an AI transcription service. Your ethics section might say:

“Audio recordings will be uploaded to an institutionally approved transcription service that complies with HIPAA and relevant data protection standards. No recordings will be processed using public, consumer-grade AI tools. Transcripts will be checked for accuracy and stripped of names and locations before analysis. The consent form will inform participants that an automated transcription service will be used and will explain how their data will be protected.”

This is one of the most timely examples of research proposal ethical considerations because many ethics committees now explicitly ask about AI tools.

If you’re unsure what’s acceptable, check your institution’s IRB or ethics board guidance, often hosted on .edu domains.

7. Example of fair recruitment and avoiding coercion

Ethics reviewers care not only about who you recruit, but how you recruit them. Let’s say you’re a professor recruiting your own students for a study on classroom engagement.

You might write:

“To avoid any perception of coercion, the principal investigator will not know which students choose to participate until after final course grades are submitted. Recruitment will occur via a general class announcement and an email that emphasizes that participation is voluntary and will not affect grades or standing in the course. Students who choose not to participate will have access to an equivalent learning activity so that they are not disadvantaged.”

This is one of the clearest examples of examples of research proposal ethical considerations around power dynamics. You are showing the reviewer: “I know I have power in this situation, and here’s how I’ll reduce its impact.”

8. Example of data storage, retention, and sharing

Ethical considerations don’t stop once data is collected. Reviewers want to know what happens next.

For a mixed-methods education study, you might say:

“All electronic data will be stored on encrypted, password-protected university servers. Only the research team will have access. De-identified data will be retained for five years after publication, in line with institutional policy, and then permanently deleted. If data are shared for secondary analysis, only de-identified datasets will be provided, and any variables that could reasonably lead to re-identification (e.g., small schools, rare job titles) will be removed or recoded.”

This is a strong example of research proposal ethical considerations because it shows you are thinking beyond your immediate project.

For additional guidance, many researchers look to resources from organizations like the National Institutes of Health on data sharing and privacy.

How to write your own ethical considerations section (using these examples)

Now that you’ve seen several examples of examples of research proposal ethical considerations, how do you actually build your own section without copying them word-for-word?

A simple way is to walk through these questions in plain language and answer them directly in your proposal:

• Who are your participants, and what could realistically go wrong for them? Think emotional discomfort, privacy breaches, social or legal risks, not just physical harm.
• How will you inform them? Spell out how you’ll explain the study, in what format, and in what language level.
• How will you protect their information? Describe coding, storage, encryption, and who will have access.
• Can they say no or change their mind? Show how withdrawal works in practice.
• What extra steps are needed for vulnerable groups? Mention parental consent, translators, advocates, or additional safeguards.
• What happens to the data after the study? Address retention, destruction, and secondary use.

As you answer these questions, you’re naturally creating your own examples of research proposal ethical considerations tailored to your project.

Common mistakes (and how these examples help you avoid them)

When I review student proposals, I see the same ethical missteps over and over. The examples above are designed to help you dodge them.

Some frequent problems:

• Vague promises. Saying “Data will be kept confidential” without explaining how. Reviewers want process, not slogans.
• Ignoring modern issues. In 2024–2025, if you’re using online tools, cloud storage, or AI, you need at least a sentence or two on how you’re handling them ethically.
• Overlooking cultural and language barriers. Consent forms in academic English for participants with limited literacy are not truly informed consent. Consider translation, plain language, or oral consent procedures.
• Treating ethics as a formality. The strongest proposals treat ethics as part of good research design, not a box to tick at the end.

Reading and adapting best examples of research proposal ethical considerations—like the ones in this guide—can dramatically improve how reviewers see your project.

FAQ: Examples of ethical considerations in research proposals

Q1. What are some common examples of ethical considerations in a research proposal?
Common examples include informed consent procedures, plans to protect confidentiality, strategies to minimize psychological or physical risk, special safeguards for vulnerable populations, data storage and retention plans, and clear explanations of voluntary participation and the right to withdraw.

Q2. Can you give an example of ethical issues in an online survey study?
Yes. If you’re using an online survey platform, you should explain how you’ll prevent collecting unnecessary identifiers (like IP addresses, if not needed), how data will be stored securely, and how you’ll inform participants about the limits of confidentiality when using third-party platforms.

Q3. Do I always need written consent, or are other examples of consent acceptable?
Not always. In low-risk, anonymous survey research, many ethics boards accept implied consent (for example, completing the survey after reading an information sheet). In higher-risk or more personal studies, written or recorded verbal consent is usually preferred. Always check your institution’s guidelines.

Q4. What is an example of an ethical issue with incentives?
If you offer a very large payment to low-income participants, it might pressure them to participate even if they’re uncomfortable. In your proposal, explain why your incentive is reasonable and how you’ll avoid undue influence—for instance, using modest gift cards or course credit with alternative options.

Q5. Where can I find more real examples of research proposal ethical considerations?
Look for sample IRB applications or ethics templates on university websites (especially .edu domains), guidance from the Office for Human Research Protections, and discipline-specific codes of ethics from professional associations. These often include real examples and recommended wording you can adapt.

By studying and adapting these real-world examples of examples of research proposal ethical considerations, you’ll not only satisfy reviewers—you’ll design studies that respect the people who make your research possible.