Undergraduate Research Ethics

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Undergraduate Research Ethics

• Any research project undertaken by a student,
  staff, or faculty member of McMaster University
  must be approved by an ethics board.
• This short presentation will help you figure out
  how to get your project approved.

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Process

• Identify whether or not you need approval
• Locate the necessary information
• Fill out the forms
• Submit to the proper ethics board
• Start researching!

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Does your project need approval?

• If your research involves human subjects or their
  remains, you need approval.
• If your research requires records from human
  subjects (chart review) you need approval.
• If you are a student, staff or faculty member of
  McMaster, or the research takes place at
  McMaster, you need approval.

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So what doesnt require ethics approval?

• Naturalistic observations where individuals are
  seeking exposure (for example, at a political
  rally you want to count the number of men vs.
  women)
• Using public records
• Quality Assurance
• If your whole class is completing similar
  projects, your instructor may have obtained
  approval for all of you. Check with him or her to
  be sure!

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But..

• What if I am just asking harmless questions to
  people I meet?
• Im just observing people in a public place
• York U approved this same project last week
• Im doing an anonymous survey sending it back is
  consenting.
• What if I am using my friends and family members
  to answer surveys?

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You Still Need Approval!
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Where do I start?

• Try the Office of Research Services webpage
• http//www.mcmaster.ca/ors/ethics/
• They have all the resources you will need
  available online.

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• As well as many general ethics resources, there
  is a special section for undergraduate
  researchers.
• From here it is easy to find the forms that you
  will need to submit for approval. They can be
  downloaded in .doc, .wpd and .pdf formats.
• You can also look at the criteria the reviewers
  use for approving your project.

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What information will I need to provide?

• Contact information for yourself and your
  supervisor
• The purpose of your research
• The methodology of your project
• Criteria for selection and recruitment of
  participants
• Risks vs. benefits
• Informed consent forms
• Privacy and confidentiality information
• All of the questionnaires/surveys/interview
  guides etc. that you plan on using.

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Then what?

• When you have completed all the information and
  gathered the necessary forms, you will submit the
  application package to Michael Wilson at the
  Research Services Office one of three ways
• -Dropping it off at GH-305/H
• -faxing it to 905-540-8019
• -e-mailing it to ethicsoffice_at_mcmaster.ca

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What Happens Next?

• A team comprised of faculty members and students
  from your department (called a SREC, or Student
  Research Ethics Committee) will review your
  proposal. They may suggest changes, require more
  information, or let you proceed as proposed.

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How long will it take?

• If you belong to a faculty which has a SREC, the
  process will be completed fairly quickly. If your
  faculty does not have a SREC, your proposal will
  be reviewed by the main McMaster Research Ethics
  Board and the process will take significantly
  longer, up to two or three weeks.
• To reduce your waiting time, make sure your
  application is complete!

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How can I be sure that I will get approved?

• If you make use of the resources included on the
  website for the Office of Research Services, you
  will have a good understanding of what makes an
  ethical research project. There is lots of advice
  to help you design an ethical research project
  and properly complete your application.

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• If you are still having trouble designing your
  project or filling out the forms, get in contact
  with the ethics office. They can answer your
  questions or refer you to a fellow undergraduate
  student who can provide you with advice and
  assistance.

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Why would I need advice on how to design my
research project from a philosopher?

• Well, aside from the scientific considerations
  of research, it is important to make sure that
  you are treating your participants with the
  utmost respect and care. The Research Ethics
  Boards are there to ensure this happens. They
  follow the guidelines set out by the Tri Council
  Policy Statement on Ethical Conduct for Research
  Involving Humans.

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• In the past, universities and other institutions
  who have let researchers operate without ethics
  approval have had their funding revoked.
• Sorry Harvard and Johns Hopkins!

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What might stop me from being approved?

• As long as you design your project with careful
  consideration to the risks and benefits to
  participants, yourself, and the scientific
  community, you will be approved.
• Here are some examples of things to consider

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Common Traps

• Your methodology is not congruent with your
  project aims
• The population you are studying is particularly
  vulnerable and you have not made special
  consideration for this
• The process of obtaining informed consent is not
  extensive enough.

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• The risks of your project outweigh the benefits
• Privacy and confidentiality of the participants
  is not respected
• -all these tips, and strategies for avoiding them
  are taken from that helpful resource, the
  Research Services Office Ethics website!

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• The chair of the McMaster Research Ethics board,
  Daphne Maurer, has posted an excellent resource
  on getting approval for your project on the
  Research Services Office website. She details
  common tips and traps and gives solid advice on
  how to design an ethical research project.
• http//www.mcmaster.ca/ors/ethics/tips_and_traps.h
  tm

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• There is also a very helpful FAQ section
  available at http//www.mcmaster.ca/ors/ethics/fac
  ulty_faqs.htm
• The online research ethics tutorial is great
• http//www.mcmaster.ca/ors/ethics/faculty_tutorial
  .htm
• (all of these resources are easily accessible
  from the main undergraduate page at
  www.mcmaster.ca/ors/ethics)

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• As you can see, there are many resources
  available to help you design a great research
  project.
• If you need more advice, or have any questions
  about the ethics of your research project, feel
  free to contact Meredith Vanstone, the
  undergraduate research ethics intern at
  vanstomg_at_mcmaster.ca
• Good Luck and Happy Researching!