Research ethical approval

The University policy states that all staff and students planning to undertake projects involving human participants must follow the correct ethics and governance procedures.

This includes projects which:

  • collect data or samples from people (for example, interviews, focus groups, questionnaires, experimental data)
  • involve experiments which use human participants
  • make use of secondary data sources (for example, records, narratives, blogs).

All staff and students who intend to undertake a project as outlined above must seek approval from the School of Computing, Engineering and Built Environment Research Ethics Committee (REC)

Process

  • Step 1 - Develop idea with team/supervisor and consider the necessary approvals for the project.
  • Step 2 - Complete EC1 form and study documents (eg protocol, consent form, participant information sheet).
  • Step 3 - Submit completed approval documentation to  REC for approval.  scebe_ethics@gcu.ac.uk
  • Step 4 - Secure external ethical approval if required
  • Step 5 - Once the ethics application is approved start the study and keep proof of approval.

Documents

Ethical Guidelines and Policies for Students, Staff and Research Ethics Committees  (revised version 2022)

Research Ethics Principles and Procedures  (pre-2022 version)

Forms