Ethics Approval


Under the University's Ethics Approval requirements, all research involving human subjects must receive approval from the appropriate School Ethics Committee. The School of Law's Ethics Committee has developed a Proforma to be completed by all students and staff and PhD candidates  undertaking such research. Undergraduate and masters students should send their form to their supervisor who can provide approval or if they have concerns will forward your ethics forms to the ethics committee. For all PhD students and Staff, the appropriate form must be completed and then submitted to Professor Philip Leith (p.leith@qub.ac.uk) for approval by the Committee. Applicants will be notified of the outcome.

All researchers should carefully note the following:

1) It is the responsibility of the researcher (student or staff member) to address any ethics issues (even if there are none) and to complete and sign the appropriate form;

2) No research can commence without the completion of the appropriate form;

3) Before completing an ethics form all students and staff should read the School's policy and guideline on ethics and the University's guidelines web link can be found here. All researchers should consult these materials when planning and conducting their research;

4) If issues arise during research activity that are problematic or potentially so then the researcher must contact their supervisor or Professor Philip Leith;

5) If your research has not received formal approval from the School's Ethics Committee or from your supervisor it will not be granted retrospectively;

6) All research with human subjects requires either a consent form for adults or an assent form for children. These two links provide a template for this and should be tailored to suit each situation and the complexities of that situation or otherwise. Even if the study does not involve complex or emotive issues there is a requirement for signed consent/assent. For those who intend to work with children some general observations regarding ethics is located on the Nursing Standards website. If undertaking research with children you must get each child to complete the assent form and also ensure that you are undertaking your research within an environment in which there is approval from either a parent/guardian or that you have satisfied the condition of in loco parentis. 

7) All staff once they have received approval from the ethics committee must register their research on the Research Involving Human Subjects Database at Queen's Online. All supervisors must also record their student's research on the Research Involving Human Subjects Database once they have provided approval for that research.

A checklist of tasks:

1)  All undergraduate and taught post-graduate students must submit the appropriate ethics approval form and also either a consent form for adults and/or an assent form for children to their supervisor. Note that you cannot begin your research without approval from your supervisor;

2)  All supervisors of undergraduate and taught post-graduate students undertaking research involving human subjects must review the material submitted by their students and provide consent for that research or if unable to do so should forward the forms to Professor Philip Leith for approval.

3)  When consent is provided the supervisor of undergraduate and taught post-graduate students must send the Proforma for students to Professor Philip Leith. They must also complete the GOV3Form and register their student’s work on the Research Involving Human Subjects Database. The GOV3 Form should be sent to Professor Philip Leith who will forward it to Louise Dunlop, Senior Policy Officer: Research Governance Research and Regional Services;

4)  PhD students must also complete the appropriate ethics approval form and also either a consent form for adults and/or an assent form for children. They should discuss this with their supervisor who will then submit these forms to Professor Philip Leith. Supervisors, once approval has been provided, must then complete the GOV3Form and register their student’s work on the Research Involving Human Subjects Database. The GOV3 Form should be sent to Professor Philip Leith who will forward it to Louise Dunlop, Senior Policy Officer: Research Governance Research and Regional Services;

5)  Staff or the lead applicant undertaking research with human subjects must also complete the appropriate ethics approval form and also either a consent form for adults and/or an assent form for children. They should then send these forms to Professor Philip Leith. Once approval is provided they must complete the GOV3Form and register their work on the Research Involving Human Subjects Database. The GOV3 Form should be sent to Professor Philip Leith who will forward it to Louise Dunlop, Senior Policy Officer: Research Governance Research and Regional Services.

Failure to comply with the above process will mean that the research being undertaken is done so without insurance cover.

Members of the School of Law Ethics Committee are: Professor P. Leith (Chair), Prof. S. Maruna (Deputy Chair), Prof. C. Harvey, Prof. K. McEvoy, Dr G.Anthony, Ms M. Requa, Dr K. Brennan, Dr A. McAlinden, Dr Mark L. Flear and Prof. P. Leith

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