Ethics and Integrity
Ethics and Integrity
What to do if your research involves human participants and/or the collection of personal data
Does your research project involve human participants and/or the collection of personal data, such as interviews, online or street surveys, data harvesting, participant observation, questionnaires, or focus groups? If so, please note that research ethics review and approval for this kind of research is required, whether conducted by students or research staff, before the research starts.
All the previous Microsoft Word application forms have been replaced by one online form.
Applications are classed as low, medium or high-risk.
Low risk applications (the equivalent to the previous CUREC 1B applications) are reviewed by a student's supervisor (if the applicant is a student) or by an academic colleague (if the applicant is a member of staff). Applicants should allow 30 calendar days for the review process.
Medium risk applications (the equivalent of the previous CUREC 1A applications) are reviewed by the Departmental Research Ethics Committee (DREC) or by the SSH IDREC if the department does not have its own committee. Applicants should allow 30 calendar days for the review process.
High risk applications (the equivalent of the previous CUREC 2 applications) are reviewed by the DREC and by the SSH IDREC. Applicants should allow 60 calendar days for the review process.
Contact worktribe-ethics@it.ox.ac.uk with any questions about the new system.
Please submit the appropriate form along with relevant support documentation (e.g. invitation letter/poster, information sheet, consent form/oral consent script (if applicable), (sample) interview questions, online survey). Further information and sample informed consent templates can be found on the Informed Consent webpages.
Applicants should refer to relevant Best Practice Guidance documents (e.g. for elite/ expert interviewing, internet-based research, data collection and management, researcher safety), guidance from professional associations, and Central University Research Ethics Committee (CUREC) approved procedures (e.g. for research involving UK prisoners, children in classroom settings or institutional settings, and deception).
If one of CUREC’s Approved Procedures can be applied, the research can be considered medium risk rather than high risk.
A research integrity checklist is also available which has been designed for use by students and supervisors to address issues of research integrity and good research practice as part of the supervision process.
Research integrity training is compulsory for all University research staff and research students. Please ensure you have undertaken the appropriate research integrity online training, available here. Termly research ethics training sessions are also provided, which offer guidance on how to apply for ethical review.
You should allow 30 calendar days for the review of low and medium risk applications and 60 calendar days for the review of high-risk applications. It’s a good idea to allow extra time for the review process outside term time.
Ethical issues should be considered well in advance of the intended start of the fieldwork, and in parallel with planning for fieldwork and research data management.
Ethics applications are reviewed by members of a Research Ethics Committee. The Research Ethics Committees consist of experienced academics from a range of backgrounds and also a small number of external members, committee members who are otherwise unconnected to the University who can provide an independent perspective. Many departments have their own Departmental Research Ethics Committee (DREC). If your department doesn’t have its own DREC the application will be reviewed by the Social Sciences and Humanities Interdivisional Research Ethics Committee (SSH IDREC). During the ethics review the Research Ethics Committee is checking to make sure that you have identified and taken reasonable steps to address the ethical issues the research presents, especially any risks to research participants or to the researchers.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)Further information is available from the Research Ethics and Research Integrity webpages.
Contact us
If you have any questions about the application process or about addressing the ethical issues in your research do contact your DREC administrator or the SSH IDREC Secretariat (Jennifer and Charlie) for advice.
Contact worktribe-ethics@it.ox.ac.uk with any questions about Worktribe Ethics.
