London Metropolitan University Ethics Policy and Procedures

Compliance with Ethics Policy and Procedures

ll research and training involving staff and students at London Metropolitan University must comply with the University’s Ethics Policy and Procedures. These have been developed to protect staff, students and research participants from potential harm and to promote the highest ethical standards in research and training. Students will be discouraged from undertaking research involving children or vulnerable adults. All students need to complete the ethics review checklist (on page 3 of this document)

What does this checklist aim to do?

This checklist aims to ensure that all research and training involving staff and students at London Metropolitan University complies with the University’s Ethics Policy and Procedures. The checklist is designed to ensure that all staff and students have considered the ethical implications of the research and training undertaken at the University, and to identify any research and training activities where there are potential ethical concerns that may require formal ethical clearance from either the University’s Ethics Committee and related Ethics Review Panels or by an external Research Ethics Committee.

Who should complete this checklist?

This checklist should be completed for every research project involving members of academic and administrative, full-, part-time and honorary staff at London Metropolitan University; postgraduate student research projects registered at and/or supervised by staff at London Metropolitan University; undergraduate and postgraduate student dissertation conducted as part of a degree programme or short course delivered by staff at London Metropolitan University; and undergraduate and postgraduate module and short course delivered by London Metropolitan University (completed by the module/short course organiser).

What happens to this checklist?

Once you have completed this checklist, you need to submit it as part of your research proposal. The module team  will discuss it and decide whether further action needs to be taken. If necessary two signed hard copies will be sent to  the Chair or vice-Chair of the Ethics Review Panel dealing with research and training for your Faculty, Department or Research Institute.

If there are no substantive ethical concerns associated with the proposed activity, the research will be agreed.  

What happens if the proposed activity changes in the future?

This checklist should also be completed to request ethics clearance for any changes to existing research and training activities that have a material impact on the potential ethical impact thereof.

(please read the guidelines on the previous page before completing this form)

Purpose of Ethics Review Checklist

This form should be completed by the student undertaking a research project after consultation with their supervisor and a signed copy included in the appendices of the research proposal

Student email address

1. Please provide a brief description of the proposed research  for which ethics clearance is requested (maximum 50 words):

2. Please give the name of the  Module leader, module title and course code:

3. Name of supervisor  

4. Email address of supervisor

Potential ethical concerns (delete Yes or No as appropriate)

1.Are any of the people involved in collecting or analysing data for the proposed activity not employed (on formal or honorary contracts) or enroled as (undergraduate, postgraduate or short-course) students by London Metropolitan University?

Yes (one or more of those collecting or analysing data are not employed by/enroled at London Metropolitan University);

No (all of those collecting or analysing data are employed by/enroled at London Metropolitan University)

2. Does the proposed activity involve any foreseeable legal risks or risk of  physical, psychological or social distress to staff, students or participants?

3.Does the proposed activity only involve library-based work or work based only on the analysis and scrutiny of publicly available documents?

4.Does the proposed activity involve the collection or use of body tissues or body fluids (including excreta) from humans or animals?

5. Does the proposed activity involve the collection of data from human or animal participants?

6.Does the proposed activity involve the collection of data through the direct or indirect observation of human subjects?

7.Does the proposed activity involve the administration of any drug, food substance or placebos to human or animal subjects?

8.Does the proposed activity involve exposing human or animal participants to any abnormal or painful physical or sensory stimuli (including auditory, visual and olfactory stimuli)?

9.Does the proposed activity require human or animal participants undergoing abnormal physical, psychological or emotional stress (including dehydration, exercise, sensory deprivation, confinement or sleeplessness)?

10.Does the proposed activity involve exposure to topics or issues that might cause offence (including exposure to controversial, offensive or illegal material or ideologies)?

11.Does the proposed activity involve deceiving participants?

12. Does the proposed activity require the disclosure of private or confidential information without the informed consent of participants?

13. Is the proposed activity likely to lead to the potential disclosure of illegal activity or incriminating information from participants?

14. Does the proposed activity involve staff, clients, premises, facilities, material or data derived from NHS, Social Care or Local Authority Education Services?

15. Does the proposed activity involve participants who are potentially vulnerable or unable to give informed consent (including children under the age of 16, people with learning difficulties, people with cognitive disorders and people with debilitating illnesses)?

16. Does the proposed activity require the staff and/or students involved to have undergone a Criminal Records Bureau check?