Ethics.

The Team will prioritize the protection of research participants' rights, interests, sensitivities, and privacy. Participation in research will be grounded, as much as possible, in the freely given informed consent of those involved. This necessitates that the Team thoroughly and meaningfully explains the purpose, scope, and funding of the research, the identities of those conducting it, and the intended distribution and use of the findings.

Participants will be fully informed of their right to refuse participation at any point and for any reason. They will also have the option to decline the use of data-gathering devices, such as audio or video recording equipment.

The Team is committed to upholding the rights, dignity, and worth of all individuals, actively working to eliminate bias in research and promote equality of opportunity and participation. Discrimination of any form - whether based on age, gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, religious denomination, sexual orientation, disability, health status, or marital, domestic, or parental status - will not be tolerated. The Team will be attuned to cultural, individual, and role differences, recognizing and respecting the rights of others, including fellow researchers, to hold values, attitudes, and opinions that may differ from their own.

In promoting academic freedom and the public dissemination of knowledge, Team members have a fundamental responsibility to safeguard the confidentiality of privileged information. They remain vigilant to issues arising from power imbalances and are alert to potential conflicts of interest that could undermine their ability to conduct research in a fair and impartial manner.

Members will ensure that no direct or indirect discrimination occurs at any stage of the research process—whether in planning, responding to initial inquiries, shortlisting, interviewing, or in the stipulation of formal qualifications that are not essential to the research.