The Ethical-Reflexive Research Model offers a way of engaging reflexively with ethicality throughout the research process. Rather than locating ethics primarily at the point of formal review or approval, it brings attention to the ongoing judgements, relationships, choices and responsibilities that arise as research is conceived, designed, undertaken, interpreted and communicated.

The model is intended to support researchers and research teams in maintaining ethical-reflexive engagement across the life of a research project. It encourages an ongoing process of noticing, questioning, examining and responding to how decisions are being made, whose perspectives and interests are being considered, what assumptions or influences may be operating, and what responsibilities arise as the research develops.

This engagement is iterative rather than linear. Researchers may return to questions, reconsider earlier decisions, respond to changing circumstances, or understand something differently as the research and their own thinking develop.