Research Ethics Policy
Alternative Formats
If you require this policy document in an alternative format, please contact Beverley Pascoe,
Research Ethics Subcommittee (RESC) Secretary on telephone number: 0845 196 4211 or
email address: research.ethics@anglia.ac.uk
Introduction
All research – whatever the subject of investigation – has the potential to contribute to or
challenge academic knowledge; however, it also has the potential to impact on society at
large, for instance, through the development of new knowledge or informing the
development of professional practice. Public confidence in research can be seriously
harmed where there is doubt about researchers’ integrity or honesty. Anglia Ruskin
University is therefore committed to ensuring that all research undertaken in its name is
carried out to the highest level of ethical standards, is fully compliant with relevant legislation
and policy requirements, and informed by overarching principles of integrity and honesty.
This document sets out Anglia Ruskin’s general policy on the ethical conduct of research
involving human participants, human tissue and organs and sensitive or personal data. It
applies to all staff (both on substantive and honorary contracts) and students, including
those at our Franchise Associate Colleges, and to all types and stages of research. It must
be read in conjunction with Anglia Ruskin University’s Code of Practice for Applying for
Ethical Approval, which is available at:
www.anglia.ac.uk/researchethics
Definitions
For the purposes of this policy, research is defined as ‘the attempt to derive generalisable
new knowledge by addressing clearly defined questions with systematic and rigorous
methods’1 and ‘a process of investigation leading to new insights, effectively shared.’2
The term ‘researcher’ is used to refer to all students and staff of Anglia Ruskin University
who are undertaking research, and encompasses anyone involved in conducting research
with Anglia Ruskin University, whether on or off our premises or in collaboration with our
staff and/or students, including on a consultancy basis. The policy also relates to students at
our Franchise Associate Colleges. Other types of Associate College need to adhere to
agreed requirements.
1
Research Governance Framework for Health and Social Care (2nd edition), (DH, 2005)
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/research-governance-framework-for-health-and-social-care-secondedition
2 REF2014 Assessment framework and guidance on submissions, (HEFCE, 2011)
http://www.ref.ac.uk/media/ref/content/pub/assessmentframeworkandguidanceonsubmissions/GOS%20including
%20addendum.pdf
Please also note that we consulted the University of Oxford’s Policy Statement when putting together this policy.
Oxford’s Policy Statement is available at:
http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/curec/policystatement/
Underpinning Principles
When planning, undertaking and disseminating research, researchers should consider the
following seven principles:
 Beneficence – all researchers should consider how their research might benefit
individuals or groups through the generation of new knowledge or an additional
contribution to existing knowledge. It is recognised, however, that educational
benefits to students carrying out research is a valid benefit, but lower-level benefits
(e.g. educational) should be matched by lower ethical-risk projects.
 Non-maleficence – researchers should undertake research with due regard to
minimising the risks of physical, emotional, social and economic harm to all those
involved in research. It is important to remember that it is not possible to eliminate
all risks. There needs to be a balance between the potential benefits of a research
project and the possible risks. Researchers should ensure that strategies are in
place should anyone be harmed as a result of participating in a study.
 Fidelity – researchers should seek to build a trusting relationship with research
participants. By agreeing to participate in a study, research participants are
entrusting themselves to the researcher, who subsequently has an obligation to
safeguard the welfare of participants in the research setting.
 Justice – researchers should always seek to be fair to research participants. It is
this principle which dictates there are no individuals or groups in society who cannot
be involved in research.
 Veracity – researchers should in general be truthful and not deceive research
participants. As part of the process of giving informed consent, research participants
should be fully informed about what the research is about (it is, however, accepted
that this would not be possible for some types of research project, but justification
needs to be provided for this and risks to participants carefully addressed).
 Autonomy – apart from when the nature of the research makes this impossible,
researchers should ensure that participants freely give informed consent before and
during their participation in the research. Special care should be taken in recruiting
participants who might be considered vulnerable. Where appropriate, researchers
must comply with the Mental Capacity Act (2005).
 Confidentiality – researchers should seek to maintain confidentiality within the
limitations of research. It is recognised that there are some circumstances where
confidentiality may need to be breached, for example disclosure of the risk of harm to
a research participant or others.
Research Ethics Policy
Anglia Ruskin University expects its researchers to conduct their research in a way which:
 respects the autonomy, rights and welfare of participants
 minimises risk to participants and researchers
 respect participants’ rights to withdraw from the research at any time
 appropriately manages personal data.
Research taking place outside the UK must uphold Anglia Ruskin University’s ethical
standards, but also be cognisant of local expectations and practices and compliant with local
laws.
In order to ensure that research activities are conducted in line with the above principles,
Anglia Ruskin University is committed to providing a robust and independent ethical review
process that is proportionate to the potential risk of the research. Ethics applications are
treated as confidential.
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Research which involves human participants, their tissues or data will always require ethical
approval. Anglia Ruskin University also requires other types of research to undergo ethical
review, including the following:



risk of damage to the environment
risk of damage or disturbance to culturally, spiritually or historically significant
artefacts or places or human remains
political or social sensitivity.
Researchers are required to engage with Anglia Ruskin’s commitment to conduct research
to high ethical standards and fully participate in the ethical review process. This includes
both university procedures and ethical review processes required by collaborating
organisations such as the NHS, which may be accepted as equivalent to our own. It is
researchers’ responsibility to familarise themselves with this Research Ethics Policy and
Anglia Ruskin’s University Code of Practice for Applying for Ethical Approval. This includes
requirements after ethical approval has been obtained, as set out in the Code.
Researchers who are involved as research partners with other organisations should ensure
that ethics approval has been given by a properly constituted ethics committee and that such
approval fully covers their own involvement in the research. Whilst duplicacy of ethical
review is avoided wherever possible, students and staff should also check with their Faculty
Research Ethics Panel (FREP) Chair whether any approval from Anglia Ruskin University is
also required. FREP Chairs’ contact details are available at:
http://web.anglia.ac.uk/anet/rdcs/ethics/about/frep.phtml
In addition to research ethics approval, researchers should seek additional research
governance approval if required. For example, researchers undertaking studies in the NHS
will also need to obtain R&D Management Approval from the relevant NHS Trust(s).
Researchers are also responsible for seeking additional insurance for their research if
required and complying with professional and other codes of practice and legislation relating
to their research.
All researchers are also required to undertake some form of recognised research ethics
training. Information regarding this is available at:
http://web.anglia.ac.uk/anet/rdcs/ethics/training.phtml
Research Supervisors are in addition expected to assist students in becoming familiar with
this policy, Anglia Ruskin’s University’s Code of Practice for Applying for Ethical Approval
and the ethical review process. Details of compulsory ethics training for all Supervisors is
available via the above link, and in the Research Degree Regulations at:
http://web.anglia.ac.uk/anet/academic/acad_sec/research.phtml
Supervisors should be aware that some Faculties have additional requirements. This
requires clarification with the relevant FREP Chair.
http://web.anglia.ac.uk/anet/rdcs/ethics/about/frep.phtml
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Mandatory nature of ethics approval
Undertaking research where ethics approval has not been obtained is a serious matter.
Such behaviour may be construed as misconduct or gross misconduct, and may be dealt
with under the Student Disciplinary Procedures, or the Staff Disciplinary and Dismissal
Policy and Procedures, as appropriate.
The underpinning principles apply to all kinds of research but this Research Ethics Policy
does not cover all of the issues for research involving animals. For further information
regarding this type of research, please see the Faculty of Science and Technology website:
http://www.anglia.ac.uk/ruskin/en/home/faculties/fst/research0/ethics.html
Governance Structure
The Research Ethics Subcommittee (RESC) is a Subcommittee of the Research Committee,
which in turn is a Standing Committee of the Senate. RESC sets policy and monitors the
activities of the Faculty Research Ethics Panels (FREPs). RESC delegates responsibility for
the ethical review of research to FREPs. FREPs, in turn, delegate the review of low risk
research to Departmental Research Ethics Panels (DREPs), subject to their decisions being
ratified by FREP.
Terms of reference for RESC, FREPs and DREPs are set out in the Constution of Senate
and its Standing Committees, available on the Academic Office’s website:
http://web.anglia.ac.uk/anet/academic/
Complaints
Complaints or expressions of concern about the research ethics processes at Anglia Ruskin
University can either be made via the relevant FREP Chair, contact details available at:
http://web.anglia.ac.uk/anet/rdcs/ethics/about/frep.phtml
or through the Office of the Secretary and Clerk, email address: complaints@anglia.ac.uk
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