Improvements in Research Processes
Research Ethics Application Updates
New Research Ethics Guidelines
The research ethics application form has been streamlined in aspects concerning the research project’s purpose, background, significance as well as how participants will provide consent and be debriefed.
As a good ethics application lays a foundation for sound research design, new guidelines have been created for Principal Investigators, and Reporting Officers involved in approving ethics applications.
The approval period for each research ethics application will be extended from a default of one year to a minimal 2-year period. Extension can be requested if the project exceeds two years.
A new list of researcher protocols is available inform researchers on how to complete the research ethics application form. These include ethical application procedures, full disclosure of information, research methodology and design, efforts to minimise risk to participants, and researcher responsibilities. A new checklist for reporting officers has also been introduced. As a general guide, applications will be evaluated on the following criteria:
• • • • • • •
Research merit and plans Participant recruitment Benefit and conflicts of interest Risk minimised Consent or withdrawal rights Data confidentiality Accountability in dissemination
6
