Research Ethics for Prevention Professionals

Course Overview

Overview

Ethical integrity is the backbone of effective prevention. Whether you are conducting community surveys, evaluating program outcomes, or managing sensitive participant data, understanding the “why” and “how” of research ethics is essential for protecting the communities you serve.

This comprehensive online course is designed specifically for prevention professionals to bridge the gap between high-level ethical theories and daily field practices. Moving beyond mere compliance, this course empowers you to navigate complex dilemmas with a trauma-informed, culturally responsive lens.

Each part is equipped with a learning module and a knowledge check to ensure a deep grasp of the material. By completing lesson one, you will earn 0.75 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) and by completing lesson 2 you will earn 0.5 CEUs.

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Course Highlights

Module 1 | The Intersection of Research and Prevention Ethics

Foundational Knowledge

This module grounds participants in the history and necessity of ethical guidelines. By examining the landmark events that shaped modern standards—from the Nuremberg Code to the legacy of Henrietta Lacks—you will gain a deep appreciation for the safeguards that protect participants and communities today.

Key Focus: Historical context, the six ethical principles of prevention, and best practices for informed consent and data protection.
Continuing Education: 0.75 CEUs

Module 2 | Applying Research Ethics in Practice

Real-World Scenarios

Building on the foundations of Module 1, this advanced application module moves into the “gray areas” of prevention work. Using the DECIDE framework, learners will navigate four realistic scenarios where principles conflict or organizational pressures arise, practicing how to make defensible, ethical decisions in real-time.

Key Focus: Solving dilemmas involving confidentiality, power dynamics, and equity using a structured decision-making model.
Continuing Education: 0.5 CEUs

Course Objectives

Part 1 Objectives:

Explain why ethics is critical in research and prevention practice
Identify major historical events that shaped modern research ethics
Recognize how prevention professionals engage in research activities
Apply the six ethical principles that guide prevention practice to data collection
Describe best practices for informed consent, data protection, and equitable participation

Part 2 Objectives:

Apply the DECIDE framework to analyze ethical dilemmas in prevention research
Identify which ethical principles are at stake in complex scenarios involving data protection, equity, and community trust
Navigate challenging situations involving confidentiality, discrimination, and power
dynamics
Make defensible ethical decisions when principles conflict or when facing organizational pressure
Strengthen your professional competence in trauma-informed and culturally responsive research practices

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2 Lessons

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2 Knowledge Checks

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1.25 Continuing Education Units

Check out the Included Lessons

This course equips participants with essential knowledge and actionable strategies to prevent problem gambling, address its co-occurrence with mental health and substance use disorders, and strengthen community prevention efforts using Connecticut-specific and national resources.

This foundational module introduces prevention professionals to the critical role of ethics in research and evaluation. Through an examination of historical events that shaped modern research ethics—including the Nuremberg Code, the Belmont Report, and cases like Henrietta Lacks and the Tuskegee Syphilis Study—learners will understand why ethical guidelines exist and how they protect participants and communities.

This advanced application module builds on foundational research ethics knowledge by guiding learners through complex, real-world ethical dilemmas commonly faced in prevention practice. Using the DECIDE framework (Define, Explore, Consider, Identify, Decide, Evaluate), learners will analyze four realistic scenarios and practice making defensible ethical decisions when principles conflict or organizational pressures arise.

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