Ethical issues must be considered as part of all staff and student research projects at University of Staffordshire. Our Ethical Review Policy sets the standards and is used for the ethics approvals process.
Ethical Review Policy and forms
University of Staffordshire Ethical Review Policy (PDF file, 284KB)
If you are a current researcher at University of Staffordshire or are conducting research under the auspices of the university, you may need to complete disclaimers or perform an ethical review as part of your research.
All completed forms from staff and postgraduate researchers (individuals enrolled on PhD, MPhil and Professional Doctorate) should be sent to ethics@staffs.ac.uk. For undergraduate and taught postgraduate degrees, you should send your ethical review form to your module leader.
Please note, you should only complete and submit one of the types of approval form listed below for a research project. If you feel the level of approval has changed at any point in the process (for example, you might have applied for full ethics but then feel NHS ethics is now needed), please contact your school ethics coordinator at ethics@staffs.ac.uk to withdraw the lower level application (in this case, the full ethics application).
Having a full ethics application and an Independent Peer Review (IPR) application under review for the same research project at the same time might considerably delay approval of your application.
Disclaimer form
These forms can used where it is not necessary to apply for ethical approval for a research project.
Disclaimer form for undergraduate and postgraduate taught courses (DOCX file 86KB)
Disclaimer form for staff and postgraduate research projects
Proportionate review form
This form can be used where the research raises minimal ethical risk. The research must:
- focus on minimally sensitive topics
- entail minimal intrusion or disruption to others
- involve participants who would not be considered vulnerable in the context of the research
Proportionate review form (DOCX file, 51KB)
Full ethical review form
This form must be used for research involving above minimal risk and necessitating a more thorough ethical review prior to approval.
Full ethical review form (DOCX file, 54KB)
NHS ethics
If your study involves NHS patients, staff or premises, and is deemed 'Research' by the NHS, then you will need to complete a two stage process.
The first stage of this process is a University Independent Peer Review (IPR) application, which requires the completion of two forms for University approval:
To gain approval, both forms should be sent to ethics@staffs.ac.uk.
Following University IPR approval, the second stage of the process is submitting your application to the NHS: this will require the submission of the IRAS form on its own via their online system.
GDPR statement
The following statement should be added to all information sheets circulated to research participants, except where a collaborating organisation specifies a different form of words:
Your data will be processed in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation 2016 (GDPR).
The data controller for this project will be University of Staffordshire. The university will process your personal data for the purpose of the research outlined above. The legal basis for processing your personal data for research purposes under the GDPR is a ‘task in the public interest’. You can provide your consent for the use of your personal data in this study by completing the consent form that has been provided to you.
You have the right to access information held about you. Your right of access can be exercised in accordance with the GDPR. You also have other rights including rights of correction, erasure, objection, and data portability. Questions, comments and requests about your personal data can also be sent to the University of Staffordshire Data Protection Officer. If you wish to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office, please visit www.ico.org.uk.
Further information
Further information and resources for staff and students on ethics applications can be found on Blackboard.
After logging-on select ‘Institution Page’. You’ll find University Research Ethics under ‘Staff Open Courses/Students Open Courses’. Follow the link to access to this additional resource.