The Trust Approach to Research with Human Subjects

The chapter describes and defends a trust-based approach to the ethics of research with human subjects. The key premise of the framework is that research is founded on trust: trust between participants and investigators and institutions; between communities and investigators and institutions; among investigators, staff, and trainees; and between the public and the research enterprise. The chapter argues that the goal of promoting trust augments other moral principles, and that reflecting on the nature and importance of trust can often help one decide how resolve ethical and policy dilemmas in research with human subjects. Although promoting trust does not solve all ethical dilemmas in research, it can be an essential tool in helping us to develop workable solutions. The chapter also explains what trust is, distinguishes between trust and verification, discusses alternative views about trust in research, and discusses methods for promoting trust in research with human subjects, such as community and public engagement.