WHAT IS THE ETHICAL REVIEW PROCESS?

 T         The ERP is the application by a researcher and the approval by a sanctioned university committee for the researcher to collect data from animal or human subjects. Any research carried out under the auspices of a university requires ethical review.

 T         All researchers, whether student, staff or faculty, are required to apply for ethical review if the research involves the study of humans or animals through the university committee.

 T         Any research that is undertaken needs to be guided by ethical standards that respect the rights, privacy, safety and dignity of the researched, regardless of whether the subjects are animal or human.

 T         The Ethical Review Process is established by the university and each faculty is expected to adhere and conform to the university’s expectations.  The ERP will vary from institution to institution.

 T         Data cannot be gathered until the ERP is submitted and approved. It is legally and morally unacceptable to use any research data that may have been collected outside the bounds of the individual ERP.

 T         There is an ERP committee^[1] established at each university that evaluates the ethical protocol of the proposal. The committee does not attempt to assess the legal validity of any portion of the application.

 T         Generally the ERP is a fairly straightforward process as long as all forms are submitted and explanations are clear. It is supervised by the graduate student’s thesis advisor.

 T         The process does allow researchers, especially graduate students, the opportunity to have another set of eyes review such items as timelines, confidentiality issues, questionnaires, consent forms, and so on.

COMPONENTS OF THE ERP^[1]

 1.         Name of investigator, personal data: address, phone number, email address

            Project title

Labelled as thesis, project, or IRR

            Supervisor

 2.         Summary of proposed research: This is not the full proposal, rather a clear and concise factual summary of the research to be undertaken. The committee will look to see if:

T                     the purpose of the study is clearly stated

T                     the research procedures are clearly summarized

T                     the sample population is described in respect to

Numbers required

Their recruitment

Their demography or special characteristics

The person named who will be contacting subjects

Method of obtaining participation

Provisions to avoid any real/perceived coercion

Location of where the investigation will occur

Compensation for subjects (if any)

T                                 Proposed timeline for research

3.         Risks and benefits

T                     Are there risks or benefits?

T                     Are they described?

T                     Have they been made known to subjects?

T                     Have they been made known to researchers or others?

4.         Research instruments used

T                                 What instruments will be used/ (e.g., questionnaires, surveys,        

                                     interviews, videotapes,  etc.)

T                                 Frequency of use

T                                 Have they been piloted first?

T                                 Exact copies must be attached

T                                 Indication of whether deception is being used

T                                 Description of procedures being used to ensure confidentiality

5.         Subject information and informed consent

T                                 Describe information given to subjects (include copies)

T                                 Must include:

                                                            Purpose and nature of study

Indications of what feedback subjects will get at the end of the study

T                                 Indications whether subjects are competent to consent ( e.g., In a school setting, researchers will need to gain consent of participating school district, then the school administration and anyone under the age of 18 will require consent from a parent or guardian.)

6. Letter of information and consent form

T                     clear statement of purpose in language comprehensible to subjects

                        (consider their age and ability)

T                     realistic estimate of time commitment by subjects to study

T                     description of risks or statement that there are no known risks

T                     clear statement that a person can withdraw at any time or decline

                        participation without penalty

T                     description of how confidentiality will be protected

T                     offer to answer inquiries with your name, telephone number, email

                        address, address

T                     request for subject’s signature indicating understanding of what is

                        involved and agreement to participate

T                     any advertisements used to recruit subjects

7.         Signatures

T                                 investigator

T                                 supervisor

T                                 graduate chair

WHEN DOES THE ERP OCCUR?

T         For graduate students, the process usually occur simultaneously when the dissertation proposal is submitted for official approval. The student’s supervisor should review all of the forms prior to submission.

T         Once the proposal has been successfully defended, the graduate office will submit the ER to the appropriate committee. The committee meets on a regular basis (usually about once every 6 weeks at most universities) to review all proposals that have been submitted in that time period.

T         Since recruitment of subjects or data collection MUST NOT begin until approval is formally received, and that approval can take anywhere from 2 - 6 weeks, graduate students should be cognizant of timelines and deadlines when preparing the proposal.

T         Although the proposal may have been successfully defended, the proposal stage is not complete until ethical standards have been approved.

BENEFITS OF THE ETHICAL REVIEW PROCESS

(         The process ensures that the people who provide data for your study are fairly and ethically treated

(         The process requires you to provide a summary of your research which actually provides opportunity for you to think about your work using a different lense

(         Another committee (4 or 5 faculty members) reads your application which is a summary of your research proposal and often provides valuable feedback