Ethics clearance
ECU has a commitment to ensure the conduct of ethical research by staff and students. Ethics is important to ensure:
- the humane care of animals used for scientific purposes, including teaching; and
- protection of the welfare and the rights of human participants.
The following steps are required are seek ethical clearance for research, and where to submit applications.
In all instances researchers must not embark on their projects until written approval from the appropriate committee has been received.
Ethics Unit Licences
Ethics Unit Licences are available for undergraduate, and some postgraduate, coursework units where students are collecting data. Refer to Unit License FAQs for further information. An application consists of the following:
- Completed unit licence application form;
- Completed ethical risk checklist;
- Unit outline (CMS) (and if applicable, a course outline as handed out to students);
- Information letter;
- Consent form (if applicable); and
- Copy of questionnaire (if applicable).
Completed applications for Ethics Unit Licenses are sent to the Coordinator Research Support at t.harold@ecu.edu.au. The Coordinator Research Support will coordinate approval with the Faculty Ethics Sub-committee.
Staff Ethics Declarations
Staff ethics declarations with no human or animal participants are completed via STREAM. Once the application has been submitted it will be managed by the Coordinator Research Support and approved by the Associate Dean (Research and Higher Degrees).
The University Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) is responsible for the review of ethics applications involving human participants for:
- Master by Research students;
- PhD students;
- Doctorate students; and
- Staff research projects.
As well as other high risk research projects not managed by the sub-committees.
The Faculty Ethics Sub-committee has received delegated authority to review low risk ethics applications (human participants) for students studying at the following levels:
- Honours;
- Masters by Coursework;
- Postgraduate Diploma; and
- Undergraduate projects.
The School of Psychology and Social Science Ethics Sub-committee has received delegated authority to review low risk ethics applications (human participants) for students completing a School of Psychology and Social Science honours project.