It is the intent of Fuller Theological Seminary, Graduate School of Psychology to protect the rights of human subjects involved with research projects affiliated with the school. Therefore, all research projects involving human subjects, at any level, are subject to at least a minimal review. 

Principles Governing the HSRC 

Three principles define Fuller Theological Seminary’s approach to research with human subjects and are basic to the protection of the rights of human subjects: respect, beneficence and justice.  

Respect: In consideration of respect for persons, investigators are required to seek voluntary, written informed consent from potential subjects. 

Beneficence: The principle of beneficence requires that researchers maximize the potential benefits to the subjects and minimize the potential risks of harm. 

Justice: The principle of justice means that the subjects are selected fairly and that the risks and benefits of research are distributed equitably. 

The Human Subjects Review Committee at Fuller has been established to comply with existing regulations of the federal government, which has issued a Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Rights (45 CFR 46) on June 18, 1991.

As part of a general assurance to the Office for Human Research Protection (OHRP), the University has also agreed to adhere to the statements of ethical principles as described in The Belmont Report: Ethical Principles and Guidelines for the Protection of Human Subjects in  Research, Report of the National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research (April 18, 1979).