Staff and Departmental Development Unit Ethics and Ethical Review Dr Alice Temple Research Ethics Senior Training & Development Officer, SDDU

Overview  University requirements  Ethical Review at the University of Leeds  Support and Guidance

Implications for Research Design  Many ethical and legal problems can be addressed by careful consideration at the research design stage  No universal formula  Underlying principles of forethought, critical reflection and deliberation  Is “minimise risk of harm to participants and researchers” the main concern?

Role of Research Ethics Committee  Supports staff and students to carry out research ethically  Cross-faculty Ethics Committees – ESSL, LUBS, Env; Arts and PVAC; MAPS and Eng; BioSci; Medicine and Health  Representatives from different research areas  Active researchers 

Application process Forms are available at:  Ensure that the forms are fully completed and that attachments are sent  Student applications must be signed off by supervisors  Can take up to 6 weeks  Committee may ask for further information/clarification

Issues Researchers should address  Aims of the research  Academic background of the research  Research design  Participants – who, how many, how recruited, vulnerable groups  Methods of data collection  Methods of data analysis  Response to any conditions set by secondary data providers

Issues researchers should address  Summary of ethical issues and how they will be addressed  Benefits to participants or third parties  Risks to researchers  Procedures for informed consent – information provided and methods of documenting consent  Expected outcomes, impacts and benefits of research  Dissemination (and feedback to participants)  Measures to ensure confidentiality, privacy and data protection

Common Issues  Consent  Confidentiality  Incentives  Researcher safety  Participant safety/vulnerability  Cover all research methodologies  Conflicts of interest  Research design  Data handling and storage

Sources of help Websites  UoL ethics website:  _staff/ethical_review_faqs  RiDNET, Seminars etc Overseas Research Jenn Parr People Alice Temple, tel 38705/ Jennifer Blaikie, tel

Key Contacts UREC – Helena Smith Medicine and Health- Dr Janet Holt Physical Sciences/Engineering – Prof. Gary Williamson Biological Sciences – Dr Karen Birch ESSL, Environment, Business – Dr Andy Evans Arts, PVAC – Dr Melanie Prideaux List of Ethics Committee Members available from: ood_practice/faculty_research_ethics_committees