How can case-based scenarios help prepare for TCPS 2 Core?

• A. They are not useful.
• B. They simulate real ethical decision-making, requiring application of TCPS 2 principles to complex situations.
• C. They replace all formal training.
• D. They only cover straightforward scenarios.

Answer: (B)

Case-based scenarios train you to apply TCPS 2 principles to real-world, messy decisions. In practice, ethical choices aren’t black-and-white; you must weigh respect for persons, concerns for welfare, justice, and informed consent against practical constraints and potential risks. Working through cases helps you identify what the ethical issues are in a given situation, consider the consequences for participants, and determine which TCPS 2 guidelines best support a responsible course of action. This kind of active decision-making builds your ability to justify choices clearly and to recognize how policy guidance applies in complex contexts, which is exactly what the Core emphasizes.

They’re not useless or merely theoretical, and they don’t replace formal training. They complement structured education by providing realistic practice, including scenarios that go beyond straightforward situations to mirror the challenges you’ll face in actual research.