School of Education
Sections 1-4 are to be completed by the student; Sections 5 / 6 are to be completed by the tutor / supervisor.
Section 1
Briefly outline your research questions or aims
Section 2
Briefly outline your proposed methods and sites of data generation and your proposed methods of sampling

Section 3
Briefly explain how you plan to gain access to prospective research participants
Section 4 (a)
1.
I have read and discussed with my supervisor the British Educational Research Association’s Revised Ethical Guidelines for Educational
Research (BERA, 2004) and/or guidelines of the appropriate professional association where relevant.
2.
http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/fabs/rgs/documents/code-of-research-conduct-and-research-ethics-approved-january-2010.pdf
3.
I am aware of and have discussed with my supervisor the sections of the Data Protection Act (1998) that are relevant to my research study: http://www.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts1998/19980029.htm
4.
Data gathering activities involving schools and other organizations will be carried out only with the agreement of the head of school/organization, or an authorised representative, and after adequate notice has been given. Written permission (e.g. email) will need to have been seen by your supervisor.
5.
The purpose and procedures of the research, and the potential benefits and costs of participating (e.g. the amount of their time involved), will be fully explained to prospective research participants at the outset.
6.
My full identity will be revealed to potential participants.
7.
Prospective participants will be informed that data collected will be treated in the strictest confidence and will only be reported in anonymised form, but that I will be forced to consider disclosure of certain information where there are strong grounds for believing that not doing so will result in harm to research participants or others, or (the continuation of) illegal activity.
8.
All potential participants will be asked to give their explicit, normally written consent to participating in the research, and, where consent

9.
In addition to the consent of the individuals concerned, the signed consent of a parent, guardian or ‘responsible other’ will be required to sanction the participation of minors (i.e. persons under 16 years of age) or those whose ‘intellectual capability or other vulnerable circumstance may limit the extent to which they can be expected to understand or agree voluntarily to undertake their role’. (BERA,
2004, para 14-16).
10.
Undue pressure will not be placed on individuals or institutions to participate in research activities.
11.
The treatment of potential research participants will in no way be prejudiced if they choose not to participate in the project.
12.
I will provide participants with my contact details (and those of my supervisor), in order that they are able to make contact in relation to any aspect of the research, should they wish to do so.
13.
Participants will be made aware that they may freely withdraw from the project at any time without risk or prejudice.
14.
Research will be carried out with regard for mutually convenient times and negotiated in a way that seeks to minimise disruption to schedules and burdens on participants.
15.
I have considered carefully to what extent, if any, my research might expose me to any kind of risk to my personal safety. I have also discussed this with my supervisor, and appropriate steps taken to respond to any risks identified. Where such a strategy has been agreed, a record of it is attached to this submission.
16.
At all times during the conduct of the research I will behave in an appropriate, professional manner and take steps to ensure that neither myself nor research participants are placed at risk.
17.
The dignity and interests of research participants will be respected at all times, and steps will be taken to ensure that no harm will result
18.
The views of all participants in the research will be respected.
19.
Special efforts will be made to be sensitive to differences relating to age, culture, disability, race, sex, religion and sexual orientation,
20.
Data generated by the research (e.g. transcripts of research interviews) will be kept in a safe and secure location and will be used purely for the purposes of the research project (including dissemination of findings). No-one other than research colleagues, supervisors or examiners will have access to any of the data collected.
21.
Research participants will have the right of access to any data kept on them.
22.
All necessary steps will be taken to protect the privacy and ensure the anonymity and non-traceability of participants – e.g. by the use of pseudonyms, for both individual and institutional participants, in any written reports of the research and other forms of dissemination.
23.
Where possible, research participants will be provided with a summary of research findings and an opportunity for debriefing after taking part in the research.

24.
Does your research involve (please tick ALL that apply):
Schools? Vulnerable Adults? a) Will your research be conducted in (please tick ONE BOX only):
Children? None of these groups?
UK only? Outside the UK only? UK and outside the UK?
25.
b) If outside the UK, please name the country(ies) involved:
26.
FOR ALL STUDENTS UNDERTAKING RESEARCH INVOLVING SCHOOLS, CHILDREN (UNDER 18) AND/OR VULNERABLE ADULTS
I have received Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) disclosure through the University of Nottingham and the School of Education
Postgraduate Office has the reference number. This applies even when data are collected outside of the UK.
NB: All students must remember to apply for their University of Nottingham DBS disclosure when they are visiting the UK.
FOR ALL NON UK STUDENTS
27.
I have received a Certificate of Good Conduct (where one is available)* and the School of Education CRB Coordinators have a copy of this**.
* Countries that produce a Certificate of Good Conduct/or criminal records certificate can be found online at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/criminal-records-checks-for-overseas-applicants
** UK students who have lived in one of the above countries for 6 months or more may also need to apply for one of these .
Section 4 (b)
Please provide further information below in relation to any of the above statements which you have not been able to tick, explaining in each case why the suggested course of action is not appropriate:
When you have completed Sections 1-4 email the form to the relevant supervising tutor, together with: b)

(1) a draft information sheet to be provided to prospective participants;
(2) a draft consent form to be used with prospective participants.
Section 5
Supervising tutor
I have discussed the proposed research outlined on this form with the student and I am satisfied that the work will be carried out with due regard to ethical protocol and participants’ interests.
NAME: Date:
Section 6
Course Leader/ second reviewer
I have reviewed the proposed research outlined on this form and I am satisfied that the work will be carried out with due regard to ethical protocol and participants’ interests.
NAME: Date:
Note to supervising tutor: Please email the completed form to the course leader who will forward the final version to the appropriate administrative assistant. When the Course Leader is also Supervising Tutor (Section 5) they should get a second member of their course team to check
and review the form. The administrative assistant will email the student (cc yourself and course leader) with confirmation of ethical approval to begin collecting data and proceed to the next stage of the dissertation.
Updated 26/11/2014