Risk: the UREC’s Perspective University Research Ethics Committee (UREC) Risk: the UREC’s Perspective Professor Richard Jenkins Chair of UREC

Ethics Policy – key points Risk aware, not risk averse: Reflection (not box-ticking) Recognition Control and containment Preparation Responsible management *Participants should not be exposed to disproportionate levels of risk* 30/12/2018 © The University of Sheffield / Department of Marketing and Communications

Potentially high risk research: 1 Potentially particularly vulnerable participants: Those who lack competence to consent (children, adults lacking mental capacity) Those without free choice (prisoners, school pupils, employees) Those who may be influenced by other issues (poor health, promise of cure, benefit) 30/12/2018 © The University of Sheffield / Department of Marketing and Communications

Potentially high risk research: 2 Potentially highly sensitive topics: Race/ethnicity, sexuality, religion Political opinion Physical/mental health conditions Abuse (child, adult) Nudity and the body Criminal activities Conflict situations/personal violence Political asylum 30/12/2018 © The University of Sheffield / Department of Marketing and Communications

Potentially high risk research: 3 The nature of the research matters: e.g. intervention in lives of participants e.g. covert research/deception e.g. working with different cultures 30/12/2018 © The University of Sheffield / Department of Marketing and Communications

Departmental definition of risk? (UREC to endorse) 30/12/2018 © The University of Sheffield / Department of Marketing and Communications

For further guidance… http://www.shef.ac.uk/ris/other/gov-ethics/researchethics/index.html 30/12/2018 © The University of Sheffield / Department of Marketing and Communications