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Ethics Committee


Application forms

Research Ethics Approval Form
Participant Information and Consent Form
Sample Participant Information and Consent Form
Sample Verbal Consent Form
QUB Regulations for Research Involving Human Participants (new)

See also:
Governance arrangements for NHS Research Ethics Committees (new)


Introduction

New ethical review arrangements for research involving human subjects, tissue or data are being introduced in Northern Ireland to comply with the requirements of the European Union Directive on Clinical Trials as transposed by the UK Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) Regulations 2004.

In addition, some funding bodies require ethical approval for all their projects, whilst universities require ethical approval of all research involving human participants.

Queen's University has established Research Governance guidelines and Research Ethics Committees at University and School levels.

The School of Sociology, Social Policy, and Social Work takes serious its obligation to ensure that all research carried out under its aegis adheres to the highest ethical standards.

For this purpose the School Research Ethics Committee (SREC) was established.

Remit of the Committee

The remit of the Committee is to ensure that all research carried by students and staff under the auspices of the School of Sociology, Social Policy, and Social Work has undergone ethical scrutiny and has gained approval prior to commencement.

Committee Members

Dr Kathy Higgins (Chair)
Dr Paula Devine
Dr Laura Dunne
Dr Davy Hayes
Dr Karen McElrath
Dr Andy Percy
Prof Lindsay Prior
Dr Azrinini Wahidin
Colin Fowler
Benny McDaniel (Lay member)

Guiding Principles

  • All school staff involved in collection of primary data as researcher themselves or supervisor of student research, are responsible to ensure that ethical approval has been granted prior to commencement of the research, i.e., that SREC form is signed.
  • No delay to the research process should be caused by SREC procedures, unless approval is not given.
  • Feedback should be sensitive and constructive, especially if a problem prevents approval and should indicate how the proposal could be improved to secure approval.
  • Proposals that involve out-of-the-ordinary processes/circumstances or that cannot be processed because of disagreement within the Committee are reviewed by the Head of School and School Management Board. Where appropriate they may be referred to QUB Central Research Committee or OREC (out-of-the-ordinary processes or circumstances might include working with vulnerable people or children on sensitive topics, using deception or exposing participants or researchers to potential harm);
  • All business transacted by the Committee is strictly confidential and will normally only be reported to the Head of School by the Chair of SREC.


Procedure

  • All UG and PG (taught) students involved in primary data collection must complete a SREC form. Their supervisor is responsible for signing it off and submitting it to the committee. These students do not normally complete a full submission (see bottom of SREC form for full submission details). Full submission is only to be made if the supervisor has concerns regarding ethical issues raised by the research
  • All PG (research) students and staff involved in primary data collection must make a full submission to SREC (see SREC form) at least 2 weeks prior to commencement of data collection.
  • Submissions will be blind-read by 2 members of SREC (or nominees). Readers confer and make recommendation to SREC.
  • SREC approves/asks for more information/refers to OREC/refers to QUB Central Ethics Committee.
  • Form returned to applicant (copy retained).


Ethical considerations

Research Ethics issues that should be considered for each application include

  1. Requirements for participant information,
  2. Risks and benefits to participants,
  3. Kind of consent sought (informed, active, passive, consent/ascent)
  4. Privacy and confidentiality,
  5. Participant compensation,
  6. Conflict of interest,
  7. Researcher safety.


HPSS Research Ethics Committee

  1. Is your research in the field of health and/or social care?
  2. Does it involve hospital or non-hospital based HPSS services users or patients?
  3. Does it involve HPSS staff or use of HPSS premises?
  4. Do you need to access service user/patient/ staff data?
  5. Do you need to take tissue samples for your research from existing patients or the recently deceased?


Whether your project is qualitatively based (e.g. questionnaire, focus groups) or a quantitative research project, if you have answered yes to any of the above, your project must also be submitted for an ethical opinion from a HPSS Research Ethics Committee. Contact:

The Office for Research Ethics Committees for Northern Ireland Tel: 028 9055 3607.

Important links

QUB Code of Good Conduct in Research

memo: Regulations for Research Involving Human Participants - Updated 29 March 2012 (new)

Regulations Governing Investigation into Allegations of Research Misconduct

Policy on the Ethical Approval of Research & Guidelines for Schools (new)

QUB Indemnity Arrangements

Ethical Principles for Researching Vulnerable Groups (CONNELLY, P., 2003)

Office of Research Ethics Committees (NI)

National Research Ethics Service

Social Work Ethics

British Association of Social Work

British Psychological Society Ethical Guidelines

British Sociological Association Ethical Guidelines

Potential Security Issues For Researchers In The Social Sciences (new)