EthixFlow, developed at the Faculty of Education and Psychology at ELTE, is an innovative online platform designed to make the submission and processing of research ethics applications simpler and more transparent.
One of the key requirements of scientific research is that it must comply with research ethics standards. However, obtaining the necessary authorisations still represents a significant administrative burden at many institutions: applications are often submitted by email, the vetting process involves several manual steps, and participants often find it difficult to keep track of the progress of their applications.
EthixFlow replaces this traditional way of operating with a state-of-the-art digital solution; it was developed as part of the REC 2.0 project, which aimed to modernise the Research Ethics Committee (REC) of ELTE PPK, under the leadership of Attila Rausch.
The platform supports participants through a single online interface, from the submission of applications to their assessment, thereby simplifying document management, process tracking and collaboration. Using the platform reduces the time required for assessment, eases the administrative burden and minimises the risk of human error arising from manual data processing, whilst ensuring that the professional quality of ethical review remains unchanged.
The aim of the system is to enable researchers to spend less time on administrative tasks and devote more attention to their research work.
EthixFlow primarily supports the work of researchers in the fields of psychology, educational science and other social sciences, but in the future it may also serve as a model for other higher education and research institutions seeking to modernise their research management processes.
One of the key messages of the new platform is that digitalisation does not replace ethical oversight, but rather supports its more effective functioning; furthermore, technological innovation and scientific accountability are not opposing but mutually reinforcing endeavours.