Research ethics : towards a meta-code for protocol evaluation systems?

An important task for the psychological community is to undertake research which is ethical. All protocols of research involving human (or animal) participants should thus be submitted to an ethical peer-review system. Designing and implementing a system that enhances quality without creating undue hurdles, is found to be a true challenge. Unsurprisingly, the resulting status quo varies wildly across countries. In the scope of the European Federation of Psychologists' Associations (EFPA), the Standing Committee on Scientific Affairs has drafted a proposal for a document very much like the EFPA Meta-code on Ethics (or ethical practices) in both founding principles and aims. The document is, in the first place, a source of inspiration and recommendations. It proposes an integrated set of principles that are to be respected in designing and implementing proper ethical evaluation procedures. In this symposium, the background and content of this document will be presented and discussed.