Human Research Ethics

Undergraduate and Postgraduate Student Projects - Taught Degree Programmes

Ethical review procedure

An ethical review should be undertaken as part of the drawing up terms of reference for the project. This comprises the following:

• For ethical compliance to be embraced and be effective a procedure is adopted which is based on an escalation process dependent upon the severity of the ethical issue.
• This review uses a simple form comprising a checklist of ethical issues and an outcomes section.  This review is in line with the guidelines provided by the University Human Research Ethics Committee.
• The student/researcher completes the form and attaches appropriate supporting evidence, e.g. the terms of reference for the project, a copy of any consent form, and a copy of survey instrument, to ensure that the reviewer is able to assess the Human research ethics implications of the research project.
• There are four possible outcomes to an ethical review:
  1. No ethical issues
  2. Minor ethical issues which have been addressed and concerns resolved
  3. Major ethical issues which have been addressed and concerns resolved
  4. Ethical issues that have not been resolved
• The project supervisor should sign the ethical review form for those projects with the first two outcomes. The form should then be authorised by the second supervisor. The project supervisor should record the outcome of the ethical review in the appropriate way, e.g. on the Projects Database via Blackboard. The completed form duly signed should be kept by the student. The student must give a copy of the form to the supervisor who should keep it for reference. A copy of the form must be included in the project report when it is submitted for assessment.
• Projects with the third outcome should be signed by the project supervisor and a copy of the review form submitted for information to the Faculty Human Research Ethics Committee. The completed form duly signed should be kept by the student. The student may start work on the project immediately.
• Projects with the fourth outcome should be signed by the project supervisor and a copy of the review form submitted to the Faculty Human Research Ethics committee for resolution. These projects cannot commence until the matter is resolved.
• Copies of Ethical Review forms to be considered by the Faculty Human Research Ethics committee should be handed in to the CSE Faculty Office, Gateway House 4.11, marked for the attention of the Committee.

Guidelines for students completing this form.