Research ethics information
The main purpose of the School of Education's ethics review procedures is to facilitate the research undertaken by members of the School in a way that protects both our research participants and ourselves.
Department's Research Ethics Committee
The School's Research Ethics Committee oversees the ethics procedures across all degree programmes and for all staff. Key members include the department's Director of Research & Innovation (Professor Katherine Runswick-Cole), the Chair of Ethics (Dr Lauren Powell) and deputy chair of ethics (Mr Jamal Lamar) All are available to offer advice to staff and students. All academic members of staff are designated ethics reviewers.
The University publishes guidance for ethics reviewers:
Training expectations for ethics reviewers
The minimum requirements to be an ethics reviewer are to complete the following and then to inform edu-ethics - edu-ethics@sheffield.ac.uk and copy in Dr Lauren Powell
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) comes into force across the EU, including the UK on 25 May 2018, and will replace the current UK Data Protection Act 1998.
The University Research Ethics Committee (UREC) has updated the University's 'Ethics Policy Governing Research Involving Human Participants, Personal Data and Human Tissue' (now approved by Senate) and is developing associated guidance to assist researchers in ensuring that research involving personal data meets the new requirements. This includes additional information that you will need to provide to your participants if any personal data will be collected from them after the 25 May. Changes to the online Ethics Application Form will also be made in time for 25 May.
A new webpage has been developed to provide key details, including a one-page summary of the changes and an audio recording of the UREC's information session held on 16 April. This page will be updated as more guidance becomes available.
- Research ethics procedures for staff and postgraduate research students
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Before beginning any research (funded or unfunded), you need to obtain ethics approval. When seeking funding, it is important to consult the guidelines of individual funding bodies as they differ according to whether ethics approval is required before submitting an application. You should also check which route to take for ethical approval (login rerquired).
If the University Procedure is applicable, you should complete an ethics application via the University's Online ethics application system. Please refer to the relevant guidance on using the online ethics system.
The University's ethics web pages contain important guidance on research ethics for staff and postgraduate research students. It is useful to read this before completing your ethics application:
You must not begin any research until you have written confirmation from the Department that your application has been approved. A panel of at least three independent reviewers will be selected and will aim to complete an initial review within two weeks of receipt of the application. The timescale of subsequent reviews will depend on the complexity of any amendments required.
If you are unsure whether your proposed research requires a research ethics review, you should complete the ethics checklist. This should enable you to decide but if you are still unsure, you should consult the Department's Director of Research or Ethics Co-ordinator. If your proposed research does not require an ethics review, you must email your completed checklist and research proposal to the Department´s Ethics Co-ordinator. A member of the Department's Research Ethics Committee will assess your checklist and you will receive written confirmation that a review is not required.
- Research ethics procedures for postgraduate taught students
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You should refer to your dissertation handbook / dissertation module requirements for guidance on the ethics submission process.
The University's ethics web pages contain important guidance on research ethics. It is useful to read this before completing your ethics application: University guidance
You must not begin any research until you have written confirmation from the Department.
If you are unsure whether your proposed research requires an ethics review, you must discuss this with your supervisor.
If your supervisor states that your proposed research idea is not feasible for your level of study then this decision must be respected and an ethics application to that effect must not be submitted.
If you are an MA student - your ethical approval will go through the en bloc process, which will be explained to you during your taught sessions.
If you are an MSc student - you will need to complete a full ethics application form due to the often sensitive nature of the research undertaken on this programme.
- Research ethics procedures for undergraduate students
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You should refer to your Dissertation Handbook for guidance on the ethics submission process for your degree programme.
You must not begin any research until you have ethics approval from the Department.
The University's ethics web pages contain important information on research ethics procedures for undergraduate students. It is useful to read this before completing the Department's form: University guidance
If you are unsure whether your proposed research requires an ethics review, you must discuss this with your supervisor.
Please note that BA students within the department will be covered by the ethics en bloc procedure, which will be explained to you by your supervisor.
Appeals
The University Research Ethics Committee (UREC) oversees the department's ethics review procedures. In very exceptional cases where agreement cannot be reached within the department, this committee can review applications. Members of the department wishing to appeal a decision of the Department´s Ethics Review Committee should inform Richard Hudson (Research & Innovation Services) via Lauren Powell, the Department's Chair of Ethics; l.a.powell@sheffield.ac.uk
Amendments
Amendments to the original research design are common in any research project. In this situation, you must consider whether the proposed amendment constitutes a significant change that could have a potential impact on the dignity, rights, safety and well-being of the participants. If you are unsure, please contact the Chair of Ethics, Lauren Powell with a summary of the proposed changes who will be able to advise you.
Undergraduates and Postgraduate students
Undergraduates and postgraduate taught students should consult with their supervisor or personal tutor to decide if an amendment or a new ethics application is necessary. If your supervisor is unsure if your proposed amendments warrant a new ethics application, they can contact the Chair of Ethics, Lauren Powell with a summary of the proposed changes who will be able to advise them.
Postgraduate research students and STAFF
PGR students and Staff should
- log in to the Ethics Application System
- Go to My applications at the top of the screen and then select their ethics application they wish to amend by selecting the 'Submit amendment; option
- Please make the additional changes to your ethics application and upload any additional documentation that is new or has been amended.
- Please also attach a summary of the changes to the application and submit it for review.
- It will then go back to the original lead reviewer to make a decision.
You will be informed of the outcome by email.
(For further guidance see: Section 3.8.1 University Ethics Guidance "Changes after ethical approval".)
Research led by another university
If the University of Sheffield is collaborating with another United Kingdom university and the other United Kingdom university is the lead partner, then the ethics review procedure in place within the other United Kingdom university should apply, rather than the University of Sheffield's Procedure.
If the lead university is based outside of the UK you must follow the alternative ethics review processes.