Guidance on ethical issues involved in research with humans their data or samples

The guidance on this page covers ethics issues you may need to consider when completing your ethics application form if you are conducting research involving human participants, their data or samples.

University guidelines and policies

Human participants

Ethical Public Engagement Tool and Guidance (.pdf)

This tool helps researchers to determine if their activity involving engagement with members of the public incorporates research and therefore requires ethics review. This document also provides guidance on ethically undertaking public engagement activities not requiring ethics review.

Guidance on filming and photography

We all have a right to control our personal data, including pictures of us. So we need to take care when taking pictures or filming at our campuses.

Guidelines for ethical approval of research involving human participants (.pdf)

This document sets out the University requirements, including the protection and rights of participants and our requirements for informed consent.

The Moodle course Research Involving Human Participants provides an overview of the responsibilities researchers have when conducting research involving human participants. It also outlines the ethical considerations of such research. Completion of this course is recommended before commencing an application for ethical approval for the first time.

Participant information sheet guidance – October 2024 (.docx)

Providing information about the research to participants and gaining consent from participants before their involvement is a critical part of conducting ethical research. This guidance should be followed as far as possible, as it has been developed using national guidance and endorsed by Ethics Committee.

Human tissue

Guidance for using human tissue for research (.pdf)

This document sets out the requirements for any research involving human tissue.

Data

Research data and social media – some general principles (.pdf)

Although social media data may be widely available and easily accessible, most of the laws, rules, ethical principles and commons sense that apply in everyday life apply to social media too. Collection of social media data originating from humans is likely to require ethical approval. This document offers some general principles to help guide those considering the use of social media for their research.

Guidance to help researchers manage data collected during research projects can be found on the University's Data Protection and research activity webpage. The University’s policies and procedures webpage covers relevant policies such as data protection policy, information security policy and data sharing.

University’s Guidelines for Ethical Approval of Research Involving Human Participants (.pdf)

This document outlines when use of secondary data in research will need ethics review and when ethics review will not be required.

Risk assessment

As part of the ethics review process for research involving human participants you are required to identify potential risks associated with your research and the action you will take to mitigate risk. You may be asked to submit your risk assessment. The University’s risk assessment webpage provides information about risks that need to be considered as part of research ethics and how to carry out a risk assessment.

If you are responsible for work that includes elements of lone working, you will need to ensure the work is risked assessed. When carrying out the risk assessment, the University’s lone working health and safety guidance may help you identify whether adequate control measures are in place.

The University’s overseas travel health and safety guidance sets the requirements to ensure that appropriate insurance cover is in place and those travelling to high-risk locations understand the risks they may face and what they need to do to mitigate them.