The School Research Ethics Committee

1. The School Research Ethics Committee Welsh School of Architecture

2. The Ethics Committee • Since Summer 2008 there is a School Research Ethics Committee in place in the Welsh School of Architecture • The Ethics Committee is set up to monitor ethical standards of ‘social’ research within WSA via formal procedures • Only applies to research that involves human participants, human material, or human data • Other research does not need formal approval from the Ethics Committee (!)

3. The Ethics Committee • Receive research proposals involving human participants, human material, or human data from students and staff of WSA • Consider any ethical issue that might arise from carrying out this type of research • To decide whether • the research should proceed as planned • Advice on how it may be modified to do so

4. The Ethics Committee • The Ethics Committee is established … • …to aid and support staff and studentresearchers in maintaining exemplary ethical standards in research within the School • …and to foster a culture among staff and students that is sensitive to ethical considerations where research with people is concerned.

5. Why an Ethics Committee? • To promote a culture that ensures that the safety, well-being, and dignity of research participants is assured • To have formal procedures in place to monitor and assess the ethical standards of research within WSA (involving human participants…)

6. Why an Ethics Committee? • It is Cardiff University Policy to have formal ethics review procedures in all schools thatconduct research involving human participants, human material, or human data • Many research funding bodies (including the Research Councils) require statements on University research ethics review procedures as part of the research grant application. • Increasingly, journals only accept papers if the research has received formal ethical approval 

7. Issues to Consider • Anonymity or Confidentiality • Valid Consent • Providing Information • Vulnerable Groups

8. Anonymity and Confidentiality • Research should be anonymous where possible • If no need for name or address, don’t ask! • Where you do need personal information, you have a duty of confidentiality • Needs to be made clear to participant • If you want to use or publish personal information (e.g., name) you need explicit (written) consent from the participant! • Consider confidentiality with data storage and/or how to anonymise data

9. Consent Three types of consent: • Imputed(assumed consent, but not sought; without an explicit action by respondent; legally questionable) • Implied(e.g., filling out questionnaire; action (of filling out) by respondent implies consent ) • Expressed(for any procedure that carries an element of risk) • Oral • Written

10. Providing Information • Valid consent is more than acquiring a signature • Consent is only valid if the respondent: • enters into the research freely and willingly • knows and understands the research they are participating in • and is allowed to withdraw at any time (without having to give a reason) • You have to give clear information what you are asking participants to do, what the research is (used) for, and what their “rights” are

11. Providing Information • You always have to give sufficient information to the participant • Without appropriate information there is no valid informed consent • The validity of consent mainly depends on the adequacy of the explanation to the participant (…), and not merely on the acquisition of a signature

12. What Consent When? • If the research is anonymous, does notcarry arealisticriskof harm, and does not involve vulnerable groups, then oral consent (or even implied consent) would suffice. • If the research is not anonymous, then written (or recorded) consent would be “good practice” (and will probably be requested by the Ethics Committee) • If research involves vulnerable groups, then written consent is always needed (!)

13. Vulnerable Groups • Vulnerable Groups • Children (under 16 years of age) • People with learning difficulties • Patients • People in custody • People engaged in illegal activities (tricky to get written consent!) • Vulnerable elderly

14. Vulnerable Groups • Working with Children under 16 years • Researcher has to check and comply with any legal requirements (e.g., vetting procedure for working with children) • Always needs written consent from parents, guardians, or those in loco parentis • Older children are expected to give consent in the same way as adults • Younger children should also be able to understand what the research is about and that participation is voluntary

15. How to Apply for Ethics Approval?

16. Making an Application • Fill out the Ethics ApprovalForm and attach relevant documents • Member of Staff or a MPhil/PhD Student • Full application • Undergraduate or Masters Student • Includes a “Fast-Track” Procedure

17. The Ethics Appraisal Form

18. The Ethics Appraisal Form

19. Applications by Students • Use the Ethics Approval Form for application • Append all necessary documents • clear description of the research project (methodology!) • a copy of the research materials (e.g., questionnaire) • an information sheet for participants • a consent form and/or a debriefing form (where appropriate) • The supervisor will initially assess whether the research has (1) negligible, (2) some, or (3) significant ethical implications • Sign and date the form (student/supervisor) • Submit to the Ethics Committee

20. The Ethics Appraisal Form

21. Applications by Staff/PhD • Use the Ethics Approval Form for application • Append all necessary documents • clear description of the research project (methodology!) • a copy of the research materials (e.g., questionnaire) • an information sheet for participants • a consent form and/or a debriefing form (where appropriate) • Sign and date the form (student/supervisor) • Submit to the Ethics Committee

22. How the Committee Decides • The Ethics committee is guided but not bound by guidelines of relevant professional organisations (e.g., RIBA, RGS, BPS, BSA) • Guided by general principle of ethical research (Universal Ethical Code for Scientists) • Guidance given by specific funders (e.g., ESRC) • The most important issues are: anonymity-confidentiality, consent, informing participants, and vulnerable groups • Committee will either approve (with/without minor amendments), ask for resubmission, or reject proposal

23. Success with Submitting!

24. The Ethics Committee • The committee consists of a Chair, Secretary 2-4 academic/staff members, 1 student member • Current Membership: • Chair Wouter Poortinga • Secretary Katrina Lewis • Staff Mike Fedeski Chris Tweed Andrew Roberts Juliet Odgers • Student Karin Bronstering

25. More information http://www.cf.ac.uk/archi/ethics_committee.php