Research Ethics Approval Form - A Guide

This document is a completed example of a research ethics approval form. It includes all sections, such as informed consent, data storage and security, and ethical concerns. The form is designed to be submitted to the Cohort Leader and supervisor after completion. This guide ensures that researchers abide by the institution's Research and Ethics Policy.

Research Ethics approval form
All students conducting research activity that involves human participants or the use of data
collected form human participants are required to gain ethical approval before commencing their
research. Please answer all relevant questions and note that your form may be returned if
incomplete.
Section 1: Basic details:
Project title: The implication of digitising the kitchen systems technology on
productivity - A Study of CAFE PORTRAIT
Student name:
Student ID number:
Programme:
College Name:
Intended research start date:
Intended research end date:
Section 2 Project summary
Please select all research methods that you plan to use as a part of your project:
➢ Interviews No
➢ Questionnaires Yes
➢ Observations No
➢ Use of personal records No
➢ Data Analysis Yes
➢ Action Research No
➢ Focus Groups No
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➢ ➢ Others (Please specify) :
Section 3: Participants
For further support and guidance please see your respective Unit Tutor:
Before completing this form, we advise that you discuss your proposed research fully with your
unit tutor. Please complete this form in good time before your research project is due to
commence.
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Please answer the following questions, giving full details where necessary.
Will your research involve human participants? Who are
the participants? Tick all that apply:
Ages 12-16: Young people aged: 17-18 Adults: √
How will participants be recruited (identified an approached)?
Participants were recruited by a face to face meeting.
Describe the processes you will use to inform participants about what you are doing:
Personal interaction with the participants as well as participant information sheets will be used for
communicating about research.
How will you obtain consent from participants? Will this be written? How will it be made clear to
participants that they may withdraw consent to participate at any time?
Written consent will be obtained.
Studies involving questionnaires: will participants be given the option of omitting questions that do not
wish to answer?
No
If no please explain why below and ensure that you cover any ethical issues arising from this
This is because all the questions in the questionnaire are important for attaining the aim of the study.
Studies involving observation: Confirm whether participants will be asked for their
informed consent to be observed.
Yes
Will you debrief participants at the end of their participation (i.e give them a brief explanation of the
study)?
Yes
Will participants be given information about the findings of your study?(This could be a brief summary
of your findings in general)
No
Section 4: Data Storage and Security
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Confirm that all personal data will be stored and processed in compliance with the Data Protection Act
(1998)
Yes
Who will have access to the data and personal information?
Only the researcher and other authorized personnel.
During the research:
Where will the data be stored?
In electronic form.
Will mobile devices such as
USB storage and laptops be
used
Yes
If Yes, please provide further
details:
Laptop will be used for
collecting and storing
information.
After the research:
Where will the data be stored?
In Laptop
How long will the data and
records be kept for and in what
format?
Till the research is over. It will
be kept in electronic form.
Will data be kept for use by
other researchers?
No
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Section 5 : Ethical
Issues
Are there any particular
features of your proposed
work, which may raise ethical
concerns? If so, please outline
how you will deal with these:
No, there are no such features
which may raise ethical
concerns.
It is important that you
demonstrate your awareness of
potential risks that may arise
because of your research.
Please consider/address all
issues that may apply. Ethical
concerns may include, but are
not limited to the following :
➢ Informed consent. – This will be
obtained from the participants
➢ Potentially vulnerable
participants- There are no such
participants.
➢ Sensitive topics – No, the
research does not involve
sensitive topics.
➢ Risk to participants and /or
researchers – No risk.
➢ Confidentiality/anonymity –
This will be considered in the
research.
➢ Disclosures/ limits to
confidentiality
➢ Data storage and security, both
during and after the research
(including transfer, sharing,
encryption, protection). – This
will be maintained.
➢ Reporting
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➢ Dissemination and use of your
findings.
Section 6: Declaration
I have read,
understood and will
abide by the
institution’s Research
and Ethics Policy:
Yes No
I have discussed the
ethical issues relating
to my research with
my Unit Tutor:
Yes No
I confirm that to the
best of my knowledge:
The above information
is correct, and this is
a full description of
the ethical issues that
may arise in the
course of my research
Name:
Date:
Pl
ea
on
ly
se submit your completed form to the Cohort Leader and a copy to
your supervisor
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