1. Dr. Sarah Quinton, sequinton@brookes.ac.uk
Research Ethics: a
short guide for PhD students 2017/18
Dr. Sarah Quinton,

2. Outline of session Introduction: University Policy
Research Ethics Review Process
Research Ethics website
Getting to grips with practicalities:
E2U form
Participant Information Sheet
Consent forms
Common problems

3. Research Ethics at Oxford Brookes ethics at Oxford Brookes
All staff & students are required to consider the ethical implications of the research they conduct with human participants OBU research ethics review procedures are designed to monitor the University Code of Practice for research involving human participants (see i.e. to ensure the dignity, rights, safety and well-being of participants are given primary consideration It is a University requirement for staff /research students to follow the research ethics review procedures Ethics review and approval is a two stage process carried out first at Faculty and then University level The first ‘port of call’ should be your supervisors and then the Faculty Research Ethics Officer – listed on the research ethics website

4. Which Research Ethics Committee should review a study?
NHS Research Ethics Committees
Research involving patients / social care users or their relatives / carers, recruited through the NHS
Research with human tissue, blood, bodies, body parts
(Must be reviewed internally by Faculty REO prior to this)
Oxford Brookes University Research Ethics Committee
Research by staff or research degree students
(UREC comprises academic staff, student representatives and two lay members)
OBU Faculty Research Ethics Officers / Committees
Research by Foundation Degree, UG and taught PG students

5. University Policy
All research involving human participants requires ethical review and approval before participants are approached to take part Dignity, rights, safety and well-being of participants are given primary consideration

6. PRINCIPLES OF GOOD RESEARCH ETHICS?
FREE FROM COERCION: Participants should be free from coercion of any kind and should not be pressured to participate in a study
Is there an implicit pressure from management for employees to participate in my research? How can this be mitigated?
Are participants my clients? How can I demonstrate that I have separated my research from my work?
Are participants dependent in any other way?

7. Really?

8. PRINCIPLES OF GOOD RESEARCH ETHICS?
CONSENT: Where 3rd parties are affected by the research, consent should be obtained
Am I intending to carry out my research through a company or organisation?
Do I need permission to carry out my research here? Evidence of formal permission needs to be sought and included with the ethics application.

9. PRINCIPLES OF GOOD RESEARCH ETHICS?
HONESTY: Honesty should be central to the relationship between researcher, participant and institutional representatives
Is all relevant information given on my participant information sheet?
Could I be accused of deception?
Is the participant information sheet understandable and free from jargon

10. PRINCIPLES OF GOOD RESEARCH ETHICS?
CONFIDENTIALITY AND ANONYMITY: Participants’ confidentiality and anonymity should be maintained …
How do I practice my duty of confidentiality?
What measures can I take to protect anonymity? (use of pseudonyms? Codes?)
If anonymity cannot be assured have I informed the participants?

11. PRINCIPLES OF GOOD RESEARCH ETHICS?
USE OF THIRD PARTIES: Are you using any third parties to collect or analyse data, such as transcribers?
Do you need a confidentiality agreement?

12. PRINCIPLES OF GOOD RESEARCH ETHICS?
COLLECTION AND STORAGE OF DATA: The collection and storage of data must be secure
Are my files/computer password protected?
How can security be assured in the ‘field’?
DISSEMINATION: Researchers have a duty to disseminate their research findings to all appropriate parties
…a summary of findings, available on request, would suffice.

13. THE ROLE OF THE FACULTY RESEARCH ETHICS OFFICER (FREO)
Give advice on policy, practice and procedures Review application Approve application at Faculty level Submit approved applications to the UREC committee Review applications from other Faculties for the University Research Ethics committee

14. OBU Research Ethics Website
Includes:
University Research Ethics Code of Practice
Procedure / dates for Research Ethics Review
Application forms ie E2U form
Guidelines / ‘template’ for Participation Information Sheet and Consent Form

15. The UREC process Meeting with supervisory team
Download and draft E2U form and relevant materials
Send via to FREO to review
FREO will feedback with written comments
Amend draft, if necessary resubmit to FREO
FREO confirms approval, print off and SIGN hard copy and deliver to FREO
FREO submits hardcopy to UREC administrator 2 weeks prior to committee meeting
UREC meeting, applications discussed, conditional approval given, letters sent by to researchers with conditions

16. Research Ethics Review Process
Submit E2U form and attachments to FREO at least one week before the deadline on website
FREO must submit the signed-off E2U form to UREC administration 2 weeks before committee sits
UREC reviews application and based on recommendations by the committee, the Chair sends letter to the Principal Investigator and supervisory team 1 week after committee meeting:
Full approval or
Approval subject to conditions – reply within 3 weeks & forward relevant material to administrator and UREC Chair or
Resubmission or
Reject

17. GETTING TO GRIPS WITH THE PRACTICALITIES
Read / download from Website:
Code of practice & ‘What does it mean for me?’ E2U form / guidelines for PI Sheet and Consent form …
Complete E2U plus relevant documentation/templates
Discuss with supervisory team, write draft
Contact FREO and send draft
Finalise E2U and documentation
Arrange sign-off with FREO before UREC submission deadline (hard copy)
FREO usually submits application on your behalf

18. UREC SUBMISSION: DOCUMENTATION
E2U Form
Participation Information sheet(s)
Consent form(s)
And if applicable:
Advertisements/Posters/Social media posts
Letters of permissions (access)
Recruitment letter /
Research instruments: questionnaires or interview questions (can be in draft form)
Confidentiality agreements

19. PI HEADINSG TO USE -TEMPLATE IS ON WEBSITE
What are the possible benefits of taking part?
Will what I say in this study be kept confidential?
What will happen to the results of the research study?
Who is organising and funding the research?
Who has reviewed the study?
Contacts for further information (if abroad, also local contact)
Thank you and Date
Study title
Invitation paragraph
What is the purpose of this study?
Why have I been invited to participate?
Do I have to take part?
What will happen to me if I take part?
What are the possible disadvantages & risks of taking part?

20. Common problem areas LAY DESCRIPTION
your application is read by non-subject specialist
Think about your participants when writing the P I Sheet: is it understandable for age, literacy level, education level, culture, profession etc.
PARTICIPANT FREEDOM
demonstrate this in the recruitment process – full information & time to reflect pre-decision – ‘informed consent’
Consider whether there are any repercussions to the individual from participating/not participating?

21. More problematic areas!
DEPENDENT RELATIONSHIPS
students / client / colleagues / employees
OVERSEAS / OFF-SITE RESEARCHER SAFETY
Risk assessment form is not very user friendly - not all aspects will be relevant so use common sense.
NHS
Requires separate NRES ethics approval – takes time
PI SHEET AND CONSENT FORMS
Match with checklists
The ‘public face’ of Oxford Brookes, must be correct

22. Questions?
or (48)5694