Ethical Approval Form for Undergraduate and Taught Postgraduate Students

This document is an ethical approval form for undergraduate and taught postgraduate students. It provides guidelines for applying for ethical approval and choosing the correct ethics form. The form should be completed in consultation with the supervisor and submitted at least one month before starting the research work. It also includes sections for applicant details, research details, and ethical considerations.

Version date: 04.12.2018
General University Ethics Panel (GUEP)
Ethical Approval Form for undergraduate and taught postgraduate
students
Before you start: If you are unclear about applying for ethical approval and choosing the correct ethics form
read the guidance and complete the Ethics Checklist. Please also consult your module handbook for discipline
specific advice.
Applicants are encouraged to complete the “Research Integrity Resources” training that is available via
Canvas.
This ethics approval form should be completed in consultation with your supervisor, electronically signed
and submitted in Word format according to the guidance in your discipline handbook at least one month
before the research work is due to start. You should not commence your research until you have been
notified that your project is approved. Ethical issues arising during the project should be discussed with your
supervisor.
SECTION A: Applicant details
A1. Surname of applicant: Click here to enter surname
A2. First name(s): Click here to enter first name(s)
A3. Student ID number: Click here to enter student ID number
A4. Email address of applicant: Click here to enter email address
A5. Faculty affiliation: Click here to select Faculty Division: Click here to select Division
Overseas campus: If applicable click here to enter overseas campus affiliation
A6. Designation: Undergraduate student: ☐ Taught postgraduate ☐
A7. Degree programme: Click here to enter programme Module code: Click here to enter code
A8. Supervisor name: Click here to enter name Supervisor email address: Click here to enter email
A9. Supporting documentation: Please submit all relevant supporting documents with this form and tick
corresponding boxes below. Please use the templates provided on the University website.
Participant info sheets: Yes☐ No☐ Not applicable ☐
Consent forms Yes☐ No☐ Not applicable ☐
Data collection instruments Yes☐ No☐ Not applicable ☐
Interview schedules or topic guides Yes☐ No☐ Not applicable ☐
Participant recruitment materials Yes☐ No☐ Not applicable ☐
Participant Debrief information Yes☐ No☐ Not applicable ☐
External review Yes☐ No☐ Not applicable ☐
Other ☐ Please specify: Click here to enter text
If you have entered “No” provide a brief explanation/justification: Click here to enter text
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SECTION B: Research involving or impacting animals
B1. Does your research project involve animals?
If YES, please also submit an application to the Animal Welfare and Ethical Review
Body (AWERB) (click here). These applications can run in parallel and your research
must not commence until you have approval from both GUEP and AWERB
Yes ☐
No ☒
SECTION C: Research involving NHS, Invasive or Clinical Research
C1. Does the proposed research involve NHS patients, staff or sites or intrusive
interventions, which participants would not encounter in the course of their
everyday life?
If YES, see more information on this page NICR for research that should be reviewed
by our NHS, Invasive or Clinical Research Committee (NICR)
Yes ☐
No ☒
SECTION D: Research Project details
D1. Project title: A Study to understand the factors which affect the development of the green dimension in
supply chain logistics and the retail management considering its recent trends and challenges: A case study
of the grocery sector of UK
D2. Proposed start date: Click here to enter a date Proposed completion date: Click here to enter a date
D3. Project description
Please provide a summary of your research project (~half page, one page maximum) describing the topic,
and main objectives, a summary of your proposed methodology (e.g. fieldwork, experimental procedures,
surveys, interviews, focus groups, standardised testing, video or audio recording), and participants (i.e. brief
characteristics of your sample).
a. Topic
A Study to understand the factors which affect the development of the green dimension in supply chain
logistics and the retail management considering its recent trends and challenges: A case study of the
grocery sector of UK
b. Main aims/objectives
The aim of this study is to understand the factors which affect the development of the green dimension
in supply chain logistics and the retail management considering its recent trends and challenges in the
particular context of the grocery sector of UK.
The objectives of this research are listed below-
1. To understand the factors which affect the development of the green dimension in the in supply
chain logistics and the retail management in the grocery sector of UK
2. To evaluate the recent trends and challenges in the development of green dimension in supply
chain logistics and the retail management in the grocery sector of UK
3. To examine how the trends and challenges affecting the sustainable development in supply chain
logistics and the retail management in the grocery sector of UK
4. To recommend ways through which the grocery sector of UK can overcome the challenges and
improve the development of the green dimension in supply chain logistics and the retail
management
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c. Methods
Usage of primary data collection (Survey) and quantitative data analysis method will be used for the
analysis of the same
d. Sample/Participants
Survey will be conducted with 100 professionals related to the grocery sector of UK
D4. If this research project involve fieldwork (“Any work carried out by staff or students for
the purposes of teaching, research or other activities while representing the institution off-site” - see
full definition) has a risk assessment been completed and sent to the Faculty Safety
Officer?
Fieldwork assessment form available here. Stirling Management School students
please complete form and process available here.
You may not commence your project until this has been acknowledged.
Yes ☐
Not applicable ☒
D5. If your project involves fieldwork, please summarise they key issues for
researcher safety (e.g. lone working, national and/or international research carried
out in risk areas etc.) and how you are mitigating them
Click here to enter text
No fieldwork ☒
D6. Does the proposed research involve activities, which could temporarily or
permanently damage or disturb the environment, or archaeological remains and
artefacts?
Yes ☐ No ☒
If YES, please provide details and outline the steps you will take to minimise and/or remedy any
damage/disturbance:
Click here to enter text
D7. Is external approval or external ethical review required?
When doing research with various distinct groups of participants (e.g. school
children, institutionalised people) or in certain locations (e.g. archaeological site),
then external approval or ethical review by external bodies is sometimes needed.
Yes ☐ No ☒
If YES, please provide details of how this was obtained and include copies of any documentation:
Click here to enter text
SECTION E: Ethical considerations
E1. Does your proposed project or research involve human participants or third
parties (e.g. landowners)?
If YES, please provide more detail by answering E2-E14, if NO proceed to E14
Yes ☐ No ☒
E2. Provide detail of recruitment of intended participants and location of research:
Click here to enter text
E3. Does your proposed research involve vulnerable groups?
This usually means individuals aged under 18, and/or protected adults (i.e. an individual
aged 16 or over in receipt of one or more registered care services; health services;
community care services; or welfare services. University of Stirling students aged 16 or
over are not considered to be a vulnerable group.)
If YES, membership of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme, or a
Disclosure may be required. If applicable, provide confirmation or explain how will
this be obtained? You must not start the research until you become a PVG
Yes ☐ No ☐
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member/get a Disclosure.
Click here to enter text
If you will NOT be applying for a PVG, explain how you will ensure the safety of those
involved in the research who are in this category (e.g. describe the particular ethical
issues involved and how you will address these or explain within ethical (e.g. British
Psychological Society) guidance. )
Click here to enter text
E4. Consent and permission procedures
Attach all relevant documents, including participant information and consent sheets, scripts for oral
consents (if applicable), a debriefing document (see templates).
a) If written consent will not be obtained, justify it here.
Click here to enter text
Only if there are any additional consent and permission procedures, not included in these documents:
b) Describe these additional procedures you will follow to obtain informed consent from the participants
and/or third parties (e.g. permissions to conduct field sampling).
Click here to enter text
E5. Are there risks or foreseeable harms that may be caused to participants and/or
third party (e.g. landowners, institutions, carers, family etc)? This may include
psychological stress, anxiety, embarrassment, discomfort, or be physical, social, legal,
economic or political.
Yes ☐ No ☐
If YES, complete the following:
a) Describe any known of foreseeable harms that the participants or others might be subject to during or
as a result of the research.
Click here to enter text
b) In light of the above assessment of potential harms, explain why the risks are acceptable given the
value or benefits of the research.
Click here to enter text
c) Outline the steps that may be taken to reduce or eliminate these risks.
Click here to enter text
E6. Will the proposed research involve deception, concealment or covert observation?
(definition) Yes ☐ No ☐
If YES, complete the following:
a) If deception is to be used, justify the used of the deception and indicate how participants will be
debriefed.
Click here to enter text
b) If concealment or covert observation is to be used, justify the need to use these methods.
Click here to enter text
E7. Does the proposed research involve interviews, focus groups or questionnaires? Yes ☐ No ☐
If YES, attach copies of questionnaires, interview or focus group guides etc. and/or provide references for
any existing questionnaires. Click here to enter text
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If the research design is emergent, and/or you are unable to attach relevant documents please explain:
Click here to enter text
E8. Does the proposed research involve the recording of participants through the
use of audio-visual methods? Yes ☐ No ☐
If YES, please describe:
Click here to enter text
E9. Acquisition of data (collected remotely or face to face) from or about human
participants using the internet and its associated technologies (e.g. online surveys,
social media analyses)?
Yes ☐ No ☐
If YES, please describe:
Click here to enter text
E10. Does the research involve sensitive topics (e.g. sexual activity, illegal behaviour,
experience of violence, abuse or exploitation, mental health) Yes ☐ No ☐
If YES, provide details and how you will treat it ethically:
Click here to enter text
E11. Does the research involve collecting, or accessing records of, personal or
confidential information concerning identifiable individuals. Yes ☐ No ☐
If YES:
a) What personal or confidential info will be collected?
Click here to enter text
b) Describe how the anonymity of participants and the confidentiality of data will be ensured and the
specific methods to be used for this (e.g. data coding systems), both during the research and in the
dissemination of findings.
Click here to enter text
c) Who will have access to identifiable information? Describe any potential use of the data by others.
Click here to enter text
d) Indicate if there are any conditions under which privacy or confidentiality cannot be guaranteed (e.g.
focus groups; mandatory reporting) or, if confidentiality is not an issue in this research, explain why.
Click here to enter text
E12. Please detail the methods of data storage, data transfer, archiving and destruction:
a) Describe how and where data will be stored, transferred and/or archived.
Click here to enter text
E13. Please confirm that you have read and understood the University’s guidance on
the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and that the necessary steps have
been considered to protect the data of the participants of your research.
Yes ☐
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E14. How will the results of this study (including feedback to participants) be disseminated?
Click here to enter text
JOUU9P8 Journalism Students ONLY
I have consulted the Editors Code
Yes ☐
Not applicable ☐
SECTION E: Signatures
By signing below (digital signatures accepted), you certify that the information provided is true and correct
to the best of your knowledge. You agree to conform to the University’s ethical standards and to inform your
supervisor if further ethical issues arise during the conduct of your project.
Student’s signature: Date: Click here to enter a date
FOR SUPERVISORS: I have read and approved this project and affirm that it has received the appropriate
academic approval. I will ensure that the student investigator is aware of the applicable policies and
procedures governing the ethical conduct of research at the University of Stirling and agree to provide
supervision to the student.
Please sign below to confirm that you are happy with the arrangements detailed above and recommend this
project for approval.
Supervisor’s signature: Date: Click here to enter a date
Please submit your completed form as a WORD document to the relevant delegated authority inbox
Stirling Management School: Please submit via Canvas Arts & Humanities: Please submit via Canvas
Faculty of Social Sciences: [e-mail] Faculty of Health Sciences & Sport: Please submit via Canvas
Computing Science & Maths: [e-mail] Psychology: [e-mail]
Aquaculture: [e-mail] BES: [e-mail]
If in doubt please submit your completed and signed form in WORD format to [e-mail]
copying in your supervisor.
FOR ADMINISTRATIVE USE ONLY:
Date received: Click here to enter a date
Reference number: Select year/Click here to enter number/Student type
Form completed, signed and dated by student and supervisor ☐
Review undertaken by: Click here to enter name(s) of staff member(s)
Recommended for: Approval ☐ Revision ☐ Rejection ☐
Comments:
Click here to enter text
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