Research involving the use of information about or the participation of children, youth, and families must take certain issues into consideration, such as informed consent and the confidentiality of data. Ethical child welfare research also has implications relating to equity, and researchers should understand the importance of applying racial and ethnic equity principles and incorporating equity throughout the research process. The following resources discuss ethical concerns that may arise when performing research in child welfare and how to address those concerns.
Building a 21st Century Child Welfare Research Agenda
Casey Family Programs (2022)
Explains the creation of a transformative research agenda for child welfare that is grounded in the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion and codesigned with those with lived experience. The research agenda will transform what is researched and how it is researched.
Enhancing Rigor, Relevance, and Equity in Research and Evaluation Through Community Engagement
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (2022)
Reviews the importance of community-engaged research, which advances racial equity by empowering community members and uplifting their viewpoints.
Guiding Principles for Ethical Research
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health
Describes seven main principles that guide the conduct of ethical research and provides a description of each and why they are important.
How Researchers Can Ensure Their Work Is More Equitable, Accurate, and Impactful
Daly & Falkenburger (2021)
Explores how researchers can work collaboratively with community members to ensure they are included in the research process and reviews the importance of participatory research methods for equity.
How to Embed a Racial and Ethnic Equity Perspective in Research (PDF - 443 KB)
Andrews, Parekh, & Peckoo (2019)
Child Trends
Provides recommendations on how to incorporate a racial and ethnic equity lens into child welfare research.
What Is Ethics in Research and Why Is It Important?
Resnik (2020)
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
Explores the importance of ethical research and shares several examples of codes and policies for research ethics.