Report9th June 2026

Rapid Ethics Assessment and Learning (REAL) method in policy decision-making

This report sets out the research that has informed the design of the Rapid Ethics Assessment and Learning (REAL) method, and demonstrates how the REAL prototype could fit into the policy design cycle.

Evidence report User guide

In time-constrained or crisis situations, policymakers face many barriers to effectively embedding ethical considerations into their decision-making – often risking an exacerbation of inequalities or unintended harms. Alongside this, they lack the necessary frameworks to surface and examine ethical implications at pace.

This is why we have worked with the ERSC funded Ethics and Expertise project team at the University of Birmingham and the Faculty of Public Health to develop a Rapid Ethics Assessment and Learning (REAL) method.

The REAL method is designed to be a practical and adaptable 5-stage decision-support tool that can help policymakers and institutions to quickly identify and address ethical challenges including the potential risks, trade-offs and harms present in different policy contexts.

This evidence report outlines the research that has informed the tool’s design and development. The accompanying user guide sets out the prototype Rapid Ethics Assessment and Learning (REAL) method, seeking to demonstrate how REAL could fit into the policy design cycle in a range of contexts.