An ethical orientation is at the very core of the LIACOM research agenda. This Laboratory puts ethical values and principles at the forefront of scientific pursuits, considering them as paramount issues to firm credibility, legitimacy and trust in the research conducted by all its members.
LIACOM prioritizes ethical principles, integrating them into its core values. These principles, intended to govern research design and methodological approaches and procedures in this Laboratory, include research integrity, transparency, orientation for beneficence and no harm, justice in the distribution of benefits and risks of research, ethical treatment of participants and the responsible use of data, on what concerns data protection, sharing and openness. Its ethical principles and guidelines observe and are aligned with the European Commission guidelines and standards (e.g., H2020 Ethics Appraisal Procedure) and the ALLEA code.
Researchers are encouraged to embrace and adhere to these principles, recognizing their fundamental significance to maintaining rigorous standards in research in the broad field of communication research. From its inception, LIACOM has been committed to these principles, adopting a responsible research and Innovation framework that incorporates ethical considerations into the research design and implementation phases. This framework establishes a foundation of integrity, accountability, sustainability, social relevance, and transparency in research, aiming to promote a positive, inclusive, and responsible research environment for all its members and subjects, groups, or communities with whom they may interact.
To further characterize our ethical approach, it is relevant to address ethical measures and practices adopted at LIACOM.
Concerning ethical measures, two mechanisms are being created. The first is an Ethical Committee, intended to offer guidance and counsel to peers and students as needed, to address research-related concerns and to foster a supportive environment for ethical decision-making. A clear and transparent process will be implemented for ethical approval of research projects, ensuring that all projects undergo rigorous ethical scrutiny before commencement.
The second mechanism is related to training and awareness of ethical issues for the academic community. An ethical training program for researchers, faculty, and students will be developed. Its contents cover EC ethical guidelines, responsible conduct of research, data protection laws (like GDPR), and specific ethical considerations in communication research.
Additionally, awareness campaigns will be developed, to keep ethical considerations at the forefront of research activities. This will take the form of a cycle of Responsible Research Seminars, aiming to mobilize researchers as well as research teams for in-depth reflection and debate over important ethical issues, to ensure awareness of ethical standards through ethical dilemmas, and disseminate best practices.
Strictly articulated and aligned with the abovementioned principles, LIACOM adopted a set of ethical practices encompassing participant recruitment and selection, informed consent, data protection and privacy, data management (data storage, sharing, and destruction), stakeholder engagement, as well as regular monitoring and evaluation.
All the research topics and projects undergo a careful and rigorous scrutiny, to establish and safeguard that the inherent dignity, rights, safety, and well-being are assured, both for researchers, participants, and collaborators. Our commitment underscores a steadfast dedication to ethical conduct and responsible stewardship, ensuring our actions align with our values. Particular attention and adherence to ethical principles and practices are given when dealing with sensitive topics within the communication realm, when addressing vulnerable individuals or populations and when PhD or Master students are involved in research.
LIACOM uses systematically transparent and non-coercive methods for participant recruitment. Diversity, inclusion, and fairness are ethical practices usually adopted and maintained during the selection process of research participants, to achieve a balanced representation of perspectives, beliefs, attitudes, and experiences, minimize bias and enhance the integrity and validity of research outcomes.
Data protection and privacy are also paramount issues. A strict compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in visible in all research activities, especially those involving personal data. Besides securing informed consent, which stands out as a primary and foundational practice at LIACOM, clear and strict protocols were developed to safeguard sensitive information and protect the anonymity of participants whenever possible.
Our data management practices encompass robust protocols for data storage, data sharing, and data destruction. The storage methods were designed to be secure and to safeguard privacy. Responsible sharing practices were adopted, as openness through sharing research methodologies, data, and findings can drive knowledge forward and foster collaborative research. At the same time, these sharing practices respect and uphold privacy and confidentiality issues. The systematic destruction of data after a given period was adopted, to avoid unauthorized access and uphold participant rights and confidentiality standards.
Additionally, there will be a regular monitoring and evaluation of research practices, involving ethical audits of research projects to ensure ongoing compliance with LIACOM’s ethical standards. Also, a mechanism for reporting and addressing ethical concerns or breaches will be implemented.
LIACOM is committed to maintaining an ongoing reflection and dialogue with stakeholders, looking to refine ethical practices and meet the evolving challenges and responsibilities of communication research in a rapidly changing world.