Research Ethics

Lancaster University expects the highest standard of research integrity from university researchers as per the . Ethical approval is required for activities that directly involve humans, human tissue, data relating to humans, or other ethical issues when indicated below. If you are conducting research involving animals, read the information about Lancaster’s Animal Welfare and Ethical Review Body (AWERB).

It is the responsibility of the Principal Investigator (PI), or PhD Supervisor, to decide whether ethical approval is required. For funded research this decision is recorded on the ACP costing tool, approved by the Head of Department. Researchers must consider ethical risk, and gain approval if appropriate, prior to any work being undertaken; advice is available from Research Services. Where ethical review is required, as indicated below, an application must be submitted to the relevant Faculty Research Ethics Committee (FREC) supported and approved by the PI or Supervisor. Details of the internal processes can be found in the Procedures for Research Ethics Approval and additional guidance is located on the faculty ethics web pages.

General considerations

  • Some projects may have more than one aim, in which case the PI is required to make a judgement on the primary aim of the project and follow the appropriate guidance.
  • Any substantial amendments to ethically approved applications are required to be submitted for further ethical approval.
  • If PIs leading projects that would not normally require ethical review have any ethical concerns regarding aspects of their activities, such as working with vulnerable participants during a service evaluation, they can submit an application for proportionate ethical review.

Tab Content: Research and R&D

Research and experimental development (R&D) activities comprise of creative work undertaken on a systematic basis in order to increase the stock of knowledge, including knowledge of humankind, culture and society, and the use of this knowledge to devise new applications.

Projects of this nature must be submitted for ethical approval if they directly involve humans, human tissue, data relating to humans, or other ethical issues.

Tab Content: Impact Projects

Impact is defined as an effect on, change or benefit to the economy, society, culture, public policy or services, health, the environment or quality of life, beyond academia.

Impact projects to gather evidence for REF Impact Case Studies, or other funder reporting requirements, do not need ethical approval. However, if the project directly involves humans, human tissue, data relating to humans or other ethical issues and the data collected is also to be used for a research project, the PI should seek ethical approval prior to any work being undertaken.

Tab Content: Engagement

Engagement at Lancaster is defined as: ‘Building collaborative, sustainable relationships

with partners and communities for mutual benefit to create positive economic, cultural,

societal and environmental change through research, teaching and institutional activities’.

Engagement activity would not necessarily need ethical approval unless it involves research activity. If the activity involves humans, human tissue, data relating to humans or

other ethical issues and the data collected is also to be used for research activity, the researcher should seek guidance and/or ethical approval from their Faculty Research Ethics Committee prior to any work being undertaken.

Tab Content: Staff and Student Review

Two different processes exist within the university for the ethical review of projects undertaken by different groups.

Staff and Postgraduate Researchers

The relevant Faculty Research Ethics Committee undertakes review for all staff projects and those individuals completing a PhD, DClinPsy or SRP Service Evaluation/SRP Full Research Project (FHM only). Students please discuss this process with your supervisor, staff please see our contacts page for how to access help.

Postgraduate Taught and Undergraduate

For all other types of postgraduate study (including Master's by Research) or an undergraduate course ethical review must be sought directly from your department. Please discuss directly with your supervisor or course tutor on how to obtain approval.

Consultancy

Consultancy is the provision of expert advice based on existing knowledge. The purpose of undertaking consultancy is not to create new original knowledge, although new information based on the application of expertise to a client’s challenge or problem may result from the work.

Ethical approval for these projects should be sought via HoD consultancy project approval. Should the HoD have any concerns regarding ethical approval, they can request that project gains proportionate review via the appropriate FREC.

Service Evaluation

The aim of service evaluation projects is to define or evaluate a current service, often with participants who use or deliver the service. They involve an intervention where there is no change to the standard service being delivered (e.g. no randomisation of service users into different groups).

These type of projects do not normally need ethical review.

Audit

Audit is defined as assessing the level of service being provided against a set of pre-determined standards. This generally involves analysing existing data with results usually being used/distributed locally in order to effect change to improve/change the level of service currently being provided.

General considerations

  • Individuals conducting consultancy, service evaluation or audit and who wish to publish their findings in an academic journal, should seek a proportionate ethical review prior to the commencement of their project.
  • It may be possible to gain ethical approval for research using data collected from participants during an impact project, consultancy, service evaluation or audit. In these cases, the applicant must request ethical approval articulating how consent for the original participants will be addressed.

REAMS

REAMS is the Research Ethics Application Management System for Lancaster University. It is an electronic ethics application review system that allows us to submit, review and approve ethics applications for staff and PhD students. REAMS replaces the previous paper-based system and allows us to provide a consistent, accurate, secure and efficient ethics application process.

REAMS Web-guidance

General Lancaster University Research Ethics Documents

Involving the public in your research design

It is considered good practice to involve members of the public in research design. Researchers who design, manage and undertake research in collaboration with the public often produce research that is more relevant to the groups being studied. Please note that whilst it is not a mandatory requirement to involve the public in the design of your research, it is a common practice in particular fields such as health research and may help to address some of the Research Ethics Committee’s key considerations.