ethics_skill

Overview

This skill provides PhD-level guidance on research ethics, IRB compliance, and data privacy for human-subjects studies. It helps researchers identify participant risks, design robust consent processes, and prepare documentation for IRB and regulatory review. The goal is practical, actionable feedback to improve participant protection and regulatory readiness.

How this skill works

You describe your study design, participants, data collection methods, and any regulatory context (e.g., IRB, GDPR, HIPAA). The skill evaluates participant welfare, consent procedures, data anonymization and lifecycle management, and potential algorithmic or systemic harms. It returns a prioritized list of ethical issues, remediation steps, and templates or language for consent and protocol sections.

When to use it

• Preparing an IRB application or ethics submission
• Designing data collection, storage, or sharing plans
• Assessing privacy risks for sensitive or identifiable data
• Evaluating algorithmic bias or disproportionate harms
• Finalizing informed consent language and procedures

Best practices

• Describe participants, recruitment, and incentives clearly and early
• Use the least identifying data necessary and document retention limits
• Draft plain-language informed consent and include withdrawal options
• Assess and mitigate algorithmic bias across demographic groups
• Map data flows and apply encryption, access control, and auditing

Example use cases

• A behavioral intervention trial needing IRB-ready consent forms and risk mitigation
• A mobile health app planning to collect location and sensor data under GDPR/HIPAA
• A machine-learning project auditing training data and model fairness across groups
• A multi-site survey seeking standardized data retention and sharing agreements