Research Ethics in Jigsaw
Research Ethics in Jigsaw
Caoimhe
Tuesday, 15 July 2025
The Jigsaw Research Ethics Committee
At Jigsaw we are proud to have an independently chaired Research Ethics Committee that ensures all our research is conducted to the highest ethical standards — with rigour, safety, and responsibility at its core.
Independent and Trusted
Led by an external chair, Professor Ross MacMillian, the committee works separately from research teams to give each project a fair and unbiased review. This independence is a key part of making sure our research stays transparent, trustworthy, and in the public interest.
Professor Ross Macmillan
Professor Ross Macmillan is a full professor in the Sociology Department and the Health Research Institute at the University of Limerick. He has been researching marginalized and at-risk populations for over twenty years with most of his work focused on risk and resilience in the well-being of young people. A key strand of his work is innovation in making research more participatory, more ethical, and more inclusive as a method of improving social science inquiries.
A Diverse and Thoughtful Group
Our committee brings together a mix of voices and expertise, including:
- External researchers with different professional and personal backgrounds.
- Young people, whose lived experiences help shape research that genuinely reflects their needs and priorities.
- Internal clinical and research experts, who bring frontline knowledge and help make sure research is practical, safe, and relevant.
What the Committee Does
Before any research begins, the committee:
- Ensures that the research aligns with Jigsaw’s values and mission
- Reviews proposals to protect participants and their data
- Checks that projects are ethically sound and designed in a fair and inclusive way
- Offers clear, constructive feedback to help researchers improve their work
- Focus on reducing research waste
- Keeps ethical standards on track throughout the life of a project.
Why This Matters
Good research doesn’t just answer questions — it earns trust. Our ethics committee helps ensure that the work we support is carried out with care, integrity, and respect for everyone involved. It’s one of the ways we stay true to our values and make sure our research makes a positive difference.
You may also like
