1. ECS SEC Lester Gilbert Learning Societies Lab
Ethics and the School Ethics Committee
Lester Gilbert
Learning Societies Lab
University of Southampton
Chair, ECS SEC
Version 2
Updated September 2009

2. Ethical issues
The condition of humankind What is a life well (properly) lived?
Moral theory What is right and wrong?
Ethics in practice Who gets the heart transplant? (The 30-year old alcoholic pedophile or the 70-year old upright professor of computer science?)

3. Ethical issues in ECS
Treatment of participants in research studies: Human, Animal
Treatment of participants’: Tissue, Data
The quality of the research, eg: Will it waste people’s time? Is the study likely to answer the research question?

4. Treatment of participants
Invasive
Intrusive
Risk of harm
Deception
Fully informed consent not (initially) obtained
Coercion / not able to withdraw at any time for any reason
Inappropriate inducement to participate

5. Participant data
Data Protection Act (DPA) 1998

6. Participant data Data Protection Act (DPA) 1998
Can any individual be identified from the data?
If so, steps must be taken to ‘protect’ it:
Retained for a limited period, then destroyed
Right of access to be given to participants
Not used or divulged apart from the agreed purpose of the study
Export from the EU is controlled
Held securely This usually involves some form of anonymisation where the bulk of the data is held separately from securely held names, addresses, and/or s

7. Participant data Data Protection Act (DPA) 1998
Can any individual be identified from the data?
If not,
the DPA does not apply
expedited submission to the ECS SEC available (provided there are no issues arising from the treatment of the participants)

8. Participant data Data Protection Act (DPA) 1998 ‘Sensitive’ data:
racial or ethnic origin
political opinions
religious beliefs
trade union membership
physical or mental health
sexual life
commission of offences or alleged offences
ECS SEC would not normally consider any study which collected such data (though other SECs can)

9. University approval
Required for all research involving humans (and their data or tissue)
Complete the Research Governance Office (RGO) ‘IRGA’ (Insurance and Research Governance Application) form for non-expedited submissions
RGO provides insurance cover
RGO provides legal cover
Secured via School ethics committees
Teaching and learning activities involving student participants (eg laboratory practice, student projects) requires ECS SEC approval but not notification to RGO

10. After approval
Reference number prominently located on invitations to participate, information forms, consent forms, questionnaires, etc
Material changes to, or adverse outcomes during, the study must be notified

11. Summary Approval is required if the study involves humans
Expedited submission if the only issue is the collection of data which may be subject to the DPA
Really good reasons will be required for intrusion, risk of harm, or deception
Studies involving invasive techniques, lack of informed consent, coercion or restrictions on ability to withdraw, or ‘sensitive’ data not normally considered (though other SECs can do so)
Reference number prominent on all communications
Material changes to, or adverse outcomes during, the study must be notified

12. Questions, comments? Site: https://secure.ecs.soton.ac.uk/ethics/
Forms:
RGO: