Ethics and Risk
RESEARCH ETHICS
It is University policy that research projects involving human participants must be subject to ethical review. The Central University Research Ethics Committee (CUREC) holds overall responsibility for policy and ethical review.
Human participant research generally covers any situation in which people are the subject of study and personal data is obtained either from them either directly or indirectly. However, ethical approval is not required for the use of information already in the public domain, such as internet blogs, biographies, newspaper accounts, broadcasts, published diaries, and public archives.
The application
In almost all cases, you will need to submit an application for ethical review to the Social Sciences and Humanities Interdivisional Research Ethics Committee (IDREC) using the CUREC 1A (not CUREC 1) or CUREC 2 forms. Guidance and forms are available from the University's Research Support webpages.
Approval needs to be indicated by both your supervisor and the DGS. This can be done via email directly to IDREC, using the words indicated on the form.
The form places considerable emphasis on the applicability of professional guidelines (see below) and in most cases it will help if you can indicate you will be using the most appropriate.
In reviewing applications, IDREC takes into account the overall nature of the project. Elite informants are generally regarded as being substantially less at risk than other participants. You should consult you supervisor if you consider you might need to use the CUREC 2 process, something that CUREC only expects will need to be done in a minority of cases.
Projects, of course, change during the course of the research. IDREC needs to be informed if either (1) the changes are such as would require completion of a CUREC/2 or (2) the change means that the researcher is undertaking what amounts to a different project.
Links to Professional Ethical Guidance:
Socio-Legal Studies Association (SLSA) Research Ethics Statement
Association of Social Anthropologists (ASA) Ethical Guidelines
American Political Science Association (APSA) Guide to Professional Ethics in Political Science
The Centre Administrator has a file of past applications, which you can consult as examples. Please also send her copies of your successful applications.
FIELDWORK SAFETY AND TRAINING
Many students will want to undertake fieldwork, either overseas or within the UK. There are a number of procedures to follow when preparing for and carrying this out.
General information is provided by the University’s Safety Office.
Before travel, you must complete an online travel risk assessment form and apply for travel insurance. Information about risk assessment can be found on the Faculty’s web pages and the procedure for applying for insurance is on the University’s web pages.
The Social Sciences Division has made a few short videos about fieldwork experiences, including some by Centre students. The University also runs training courses on safety in fieldwork.
At the Centre, the session on ‘Experiences of Doing Graduate Research’ which is part of the Theory and Methods course held in Trinity Term, provides you with the opportunity to discuss practical issues with students who have already completed fieldwork.
Useful Links
The University’s Safety Office
Divisional guidance on fieldwork
Advice on travel from the University’s Occupation Health Service
Foreign travel advice from the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office