The role of the committee on ethics in research in the assessment of the ethical implications of the use of statistical tests

Abstract

Brazilian’s research ethics has being transformed since the deployments of Platform Brazil, in 2011, and the Resolution CNS 466/12, in 2013. However, the ethical implication of statistical tests uses in quantitative research has been little discussed. While some advocate that the research ethics committees should not be involved with statistical analyzes, others argue the opposite. This paper reviews the role of the ethical implications of the statistical work of research, analyzes the consequences of statistical deviations on the final results of the work and concludes that the committee should take responsibility for the adequacy of the statistical analyzes in research projects. Facing current difficulties regarding establishing an ethic assessment system in research in Brazil, some basic orientation is proposed to statistical analyzes assessment, pointing out a solution to this issue by the  so called reproducible research.