Management

Business School Research Ethics Application Form

Project Title
Module
Module Code
Academic Year
Student
Supervisor

This section focuses on gaining an overall understanding of what is being examined within the research project. There should be sufficiently detailed so that a layperson can understand what is being assessed and how.

A1 – Please provide a brief background and rationale to the research:
(This should be no more than 300 words and written for non-subject experts)

A2 – Please concisely state the research aim(s) and objective(s):
(This should be no more than 150 words and written for non-subject experts)

A3 – Please provide an overview of the methodological approach and materials used in this project:
(This should be written for non-subject experts)

A4 – Will the project entail ONLY secondary data collection using publically available sources?
(If you have answered “Yes” to A4 you do not need to complete sections B-D, please go direct to section E)

Please consider the following:
Does data collection require:
Either researchers or participants to enter private locations (to which neither individual has full access rights)
Access to the home(s) of either researchers or participants
Private locations with no neutral third party present
Entry to public locations after the hours of 6.00pm?
Are there any issues of confidentiality NOT addressed by the following?
Aggregation of numerical data
Anonymisation of specific individuals or organisations (e.g. through use of pseudonyms)
Paraphrasing of potentially identifiable quotes

Are there any issues of data handling which are not dealt with by the following established procedures?
Compliance with the Data Protection Act
BCU University storage policy

This section focuses on gaining an understanding of how you will identify and recruit participants and whether what you are wishing to conduct is ethically sound. Please explain who you will recruit, why, how will you ensure their safety i.e. anonymity and any further ethical risks associated.

C1 – How will potential participants be identified, approached and recruited?

C2- How will participants give informed consent freely?
(Please provide the consent form and participant information sheet with this ethics application)

C3 – Will participants be informed of their right to withdraw their participation and/or data at any time during and after the study? Provide details of how you will achieve this:

This section requires you to detail: a) How you plan to collect your data and, b) How will securely store it. You are required to inform the committee how you aim to minimise environmental risks when collecting data, in addition to discussing the steps that you will take to protect the data that will be collected.

D1 –Please provide details regarding the proposed site(s) for data collection
(e.g. location(s) and timing of data collection, with reference to potential risks to participants and researchers posed by this)

D2 – How will you ensure confidentiality (or anonymisation, if possible) in collecting, interpreting and storing data?

D3- Where will data be stored and how will access be managed and controlled?

Appendices checklist (Not Necessary for Secondary Data Analysis)
Participant information sheet
Participant consent form
Research materials (e.g. Copies of questionnaires, interviews, vignettes and other research tools)

Student declaration
In signing this research ethics application form I confirm the following:
That the form is accurate and completed to the best of my knowledge.
If the research is approved then I will adhere to the terms of the full application and if there are to be any changes to the project I will seek an amendment from the committee.
I understand that research records/data may be subject to inspection for audit and compliance purposes.
I understand this application and any additional documentation will be retained for 5 years post the end of the project.
I understand that my research must not involve: participation of those under 18 years of age; participation of those with learning disability; participation of those with a mental health condition; participation of those with physical or sensory impairments; participation of those with sensitive/significant life experiences (e.g. victims of abuse / ex-offenders); data collection surrounding highly sensitive topics (e.g. abuse, terrorism, religion, interpersonal violence, terminal illness); data collection from those in prison; constraint of participant rights (e.g. informed consent via deception, or perceptions of the right to withdraw from the study); any physical or intrusive intervention with the participant (including consumption of food or drinks); withholding any aspects of routine health treatment or care; a reasonable risk of disclosure of information requiring communication to another organisation (e.g. abuse, criminal offences/illegal activity, unknown illness or disease); long distance travel to collect data; NHS service users.

Signed by
Date

Supervisor declaration
In signing this research ethics application form I confirm the following:
I am satisfied that the scientific content of the research is satisfactory for an educational qualification at this level.
I take responsibility for working with the student named above to ensure that this study is conducted in accordance with the relevant disciplinary ethical guidelines.
I will ensure that the student seeks an amendment from the BLSS Research Ethics Committee before implementing substantial amendments to the protocol or to the terms of the full application of which the Committee has given a favourable opinion.

Signed by
Date

ADMINISTRATION SECTION
Application Reference:
Date of Submission:
Allocated Category:
Allocated Reviewers: