Research Ethics A guide to principles and procedures

1. Research EthicsA guide to principles and procedures Dr Ruth Green Chair: University Ethics Sub-Committee

2. Why is Research Ethics Important? • It is a reflection of respect for those who ‘take part’ in research • It ensures no unreasonable, unsafe or thoughtless demands are made by researchers • It ensures sufficient knowledge is shared by all concerned • It imposes a common standard in all the above respects

3. Why is Research Ethics Important • It has become the norm as an expectation for research activity • …. a professional requirement for practitioners in some disciplines e.g. psychology • … a requirement for access to participants in others e.g. health • … and a requirement to comply with external REF’s to obtain funding e.g. ESRC

4. What Projects Need Ethical Approval? • Human participants • Use of the ‘products’ of human participants • Animal participants • Work that potentially impacts on human participants • Where ethical approval is deemed unnecessary a disclaimer may be signed by researcher (and supervisor)

5. Key Ethical Issues • Informed Consent - special consideration for minors • Deception • Need for debriefing • Right to withdraw • Confidentiality • Safety and risk

6. What Else Does the Panel Need to Know? • Summary of background to and rationale for proposal • Nature of data to be collected • Procedures and measuring tools/equipment • Who are the participants? • Where will data collection occur? • How will data be stored and for how long?

7. Structure of Ethics Committees • University Ethics Sub-Committee • policy making, dissemination, monitoring/audit • Faculty Ethics Panel • routine approval, monitoring of sub-panels if they exist • Optional Programme/Subject Area Sub-Panels • routine approval

8. Full Procedure • Complete Full University Approval form • Attach consent form, information sheet and additional material e.g. questionnaires • Students must get form checked & signed by supervisor • Submit to appropriate Ethics Panel – where Sub-Panels exist, staff and PG researchers must still submit to Faculty Panel • DATA COLLECTION MUST NOT START UNTIL PANEL INFORMS

9. Outcomes of First Application • Approved - must begin within the timescale indicated • Approved subject to amendments – supervisor confirms with Chair of FEP • Deferred – passed to UESC (v. rare!) • Not Approved – major revisions and resubmit

10. Additional Issues • Changes to original proposal must be notified • Completion of project must be notified • Adverse events must be notified • Some applications will require evidence of risk assessment • Some applications will require evidence of Police Clearance

11. Recent Developments • University Ethics Website • Assessment of training needs and development of generic training material • Wider dissemination of key information • E.g. new staff, admin staff, partners • Extension of principles to non-Faculty staff • ADI to form Ethics Panel • Extension to home and international partners

12. Recent Developments • Extension of remit to enterprise and knowledge transfer activities • Auditing of Faculty activities • Publication of new Code of Conduct for Research • Appointment of lay members • Development of Fast-Track Approval Procedures

13. Fast Track Approval Procedures • Accepts principle that much routine research conforms to accepted ethical principles • Form requires checking off a series of questions; if OK add 150 word summary • Student form to be signed by supervisor + one other • All ft forms sent to Chair of FEP for information • Option in student forms for signing in 2 stages