Ethics 101: A Step-By-Step Guide for Research with Participants

#1 Determine your research questions

Before you can start the ethics application, you need to work out what you are planning to do. What are your research questions? What methods are you going to use? How many participants will you require? Are there any risks for your participants? These questions (and justifications for your answers) are all fundamental to an ethics application. Working these out clearly with your supervisors before you start will stand you in a strong position.

#2 Work out your university’s system (and any deadlines)

Each university will have a slightly different system for ethics. The level of approval you need depends on the research you are doing. For example, studies collecting sensory perception data (considered low risk) can be approved at school level, whereas those collecting human tissue samples (such as blood or saliva) will require university-level approval. These levels have different ethics application forms and requirements, so work out what level you will need before you start writing.

The different boards will each meet at different times of the year. Some ethics committees only meet three times a year so missing the deadline can really push your research back!! Get these dates in your (and your supervisor’s) diary early so you know what you are working towards.

#3 Read example ethics applications

If you are a visual learner, like me, then seeing what you are aiming for can be a really helpful starting point. Ask other members of your department to share their approved applications and use these as a starting point. There will be standardised sections in ethics applications, such as data managements plans, meaning that you don’t have to start from scratch for these! Although do not blindly copy and paste — you need to adapt all content for your research and make sure it is applicable.

#4 Draft your ethics application and get feedback

The ethics application is a big document (especially when collecting human tissues or participant demographic data) so give yourself time to write it. Having a live version that is shared with your supervisors means you can get feedback as you write.

There are some sections that are quick to complete such as details of the researchers involved in the project, the location(s) where the work will take place and funding information.

Other sections are very detailed and will require a strong understanding of the research you are planning to complete. Example sections include: a summary of the background, methods to be used and key ethical issues surrounding the study at a level that can be understood by a non-specialised audience; the study design and procedure; justification of the number of participants you will need and how you have generated this number; recruitment practices; and your plan to ensure safe practices are observed for obtaining consent, managing data, anonymisation of participant information and payment to participants.

These sections will require details about your study as well as references to any literature that has helped you make these decisions.

In our department, we also have a standard practice of sharing our ethics applications for internal review with another academic before it is sent to the ethics panel. This gives you a chance to correct any issues and iron out any confusions before the official deadline. This was really useful for me, so I would suggest approaching a colleague if your university does not practice this. Remember than the extra level of review takes time, which needs to be accommodated in your timeline for writing!

#5 Stick to it!!

The ethical approval for your research project (and any collected samples) is only valid if you adhere to everything detailed in your approved application and data management plan. This is essential! If you need to make any adjustments to your plan, you will need to submit an ethics amendment for these changes. To help keep your ethics application at the front of your mind, keep the form to hand and refer to it when planning your experiments. And, if you are unsure of something, always ask for help!

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