Skip to main content
. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2022 Oct 1.
Published in final edited form as: Account Res. 2020 Dec 26;28(7):456–469. doi: 10.1080/08989621.2020.1855427

Table 2:

Three questions that can be used to demonstrate why a research project or institution deserves the public’s trust

Question Justification
What is that we are asking people to trust us with, in order to accomplish what goal/purpose? This question helps us remember the dependency of research on others and what the good is that we seek on their behalf.
What accountability/safety/precautionary methods and practices are in place that help assure that we can be trusted to do the things we want to do with what we are soliciting from others and how effective are they? This question helps us recall that, just as a chain is only as strong as its weakest link, an endeavor like research is made vulnerable by its weakest accountability measure/practice.
What additional steps, if any, do we need to take to ensure that we have effective safeguards in place? This question steers us away from complacency with current safeguards towards vigilance regarding matters pertaining to individual research projects.