Most people would agree that research ethics is important and should be a central, frequently discussed topic in academia and health research. However, ethical issues are not always made visible or prioritized in practice.
– The topic of my research was exploring perspectives on barriers and facilitators to compliance with research ethics-related guidelines, policies and regulatory frameworks among researchers, Research Ethics Committee (REC) and Institutional Review Board (IRB) members, policymakers, and regulators in Rwanda.
She explains: – Despite the presence of well-established national policies, laws, and regulatory frameworks, compliance gaps persist. These gaps are mainly driven by low awareness and insufficient monitoring of implementation practices among researchers.
Dorcas did her fieldwork from August to December 2025, in her home country Rwanda. She chose to conduct the study in Rwanda because she wanted to understand researchers’ perspectives on ethical compliance within her home country, where she speaks the language and can easily integrate into the community.
What is research ethics?
– Research ethics is a cornerstone of research and innovation. It ensures that scientific activities are conducted with integrity, accountability, and respect for the rights and welfare of participants. It covers a wide range of principles and practices, including protecting participants and ensuring that research is conducted in a responsible and respectful way, she explains.
For instance, Dorcas highlights that participants should know their rights, that these rights should be actively respected in practice by researchers, and that researchers should reflect on what they owe back to the communities they study.
Preliminary research findings: Knowledge gaps
For her master’s project, Dorcas conducted semi structured qualitative interviews with these key groups: researchers, members of ethics committees and policy makers.
– The analysis is still in process, but the main barrier to compliance, I see so far is a knowledge gap, she says. Many reseachers reported that they had only limited or brief training in research ethics, often as a small part of another course or module.
She also explains that researchers often work under considerable pressure and heavy workloads, making ethical considerations less of a priority.
– Sometimes, because of time pressure, researchers can rush through or pay less attention to procedures such as fully explaining informed consent, she says.
From theory to practice: What fieldwork taught her
For Dorcas, the fieldwork was an opportunity to put theory into practice.
– I think doing this fieldwork was a really good experience. It helps you to connect and network with different people. You also get to apply the knowledge from your study into practice and really learn how to conduct research.
When asked about the best part of the experience, she points to contributing to solutions.
– I think the best part was collecting the data and having the opportunity to help find a solution to an existing problem. You can bring impact to the community and give helpful recommendations after the project.
Dorcas also mentions several skills she developed during the process, such as communication skills and time management.
What happens after fieldwork?
The fieldwork is one part of the master’s process. After returning, Dorcas is now working on the next steps.
-– After collecting the data, I am analyzing the data and will write my final project and defend it, she explains.
Further, she hopes to publish the results and give recommendations to academics, policy makers, ethics committees, participants, and researchers.
Challenges in the field
– Did you have any challenges during the fieldwork?
– Sometimes it was hard to get participants, people are busy and not always available, she explains.
Dorcas emphasizes that she did not go into the field unprepared. Training at the University of Oslo, together with support from her supervisors, helped her conduct high-quality research.
– During fieldwork, you are not on your own. First, you are equipped with knowledge, trained, and given solid research skills, and you learn how to conduct research in an effective way. Then you apply these skills in the field, she says.