At The Journal of Kink and Community, we are committed to ensuring that all research published in our journal adheres to the highest ethical standards. The Ethical Review Board (ERB) is central to this commitment. The ERB ensures that all submissions involving human participants or sensitive topics are reviewed to align with our core principles of informed consent, safety, confidentiality, non-exploitation, and community respect.
The ERB process is designed to protect participants, uphold ethical research practices, and support the integrity of the research community. Below, we outline the steps of the ERB process and the standards researchers are expected to meet before their work is published.
The ERB ensures that the research published in The Journal of Kink and Community maintains the highest ethical standards. This process is essential to protecting the rights, dignity, and safety of research participants while also ensuring that research serves to advance understanding within the kink and BDSM communities. The ERB evaluates submissions for:
Researchers must submit a research proposal to The Journal of Kink and Community, outlining the study’s objectives, methodology, and participant involvement. The proposal should include:
Once the proposal is submitted, the Ethical Review Board (ERB) conducts an initial review of the research. The board comprises experts in kink ethics, human subjects research, and community engagement. During this stage, the ERB will assess the following:
If the ERB identifies any concerns or areas for improvement, they will provide feedback and recommendations to the researcher. This may include:
If the research requires revisions, the researcher will update the proposal based on the feedback provided by the ERB and resubmit it for further review. Once the necessary changes are made, the ERB will evaluate the revisions and determine whether the research is ethically sound.
Once the ERB is satisfied with the revisions, the research will receive final approval for publication. The researcher will then be notified that their study is ready for publication in The Journal of Kink and Community. If the ERB determines that the research does not meet ethical standards, it will not be approved for publication, and the researcher will be provided with a detailed explanation of the reasons for the decision.
At The Journal of Kink and Community, the ERB plays an integral role in ensuring that research conducted in kink and BDSM spaces is ethically sound and aligned with our mission. By upholding high ethical standards, the ERB supports the integrity of the research community, protects participants, and ensures that kink research is taken seriously in both academic and community contexts.
We are proud to provide a platform that encourages research that is inclusive, responsible, and community-centered, while adhering to ethical principles that prioritize the well-being of all involved.
If you have questions about the Ethical Review Board Process, or if you are a researcher interested in submitting a study for review, please contact us at journal@thekpsa.org.