APPENDIX B:
RESEARCH TO BE UNDERTAKEN OUTSIDE AUSTRALIA
Appendix B must be completed and attached to any application involving research to be
carried out in countries outside Australia. Applicants are advised to seek clarification
from the Human Research Ethics Committee or the Research Office if they are unsure
how to answer any question.
1.
Identify the country or countries in which the proposed research activity will
be undertaken. Identify any specific groups with an interest in the research
topic. Identify the native language (and where relevant your own language
fluency or the research participants’ English fluency).
Country:
Language(s):
Where possible, provide the name of an independent person or organisation and a
local contact number for people to contact in relation to ethical concerns about your
research. This information should also be included on your consent form. Also,
please attach correspondence from the local contact person to this form.
Name:
Contact Number:
2.
Have you received written permission from the Vice-Chancellor via the Manager, Staff
Health, to undertake research in an area to which official travel is not advised?
Yes
No
N/A
If YES, attach documentation. If not, please explain the reasons for not seeking
permission.
Overseas travel may require approvals other than ethics approval. In particular, it is
a University requirement that Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)
travel warnings are considered and you should review information available at the
DFAT web site (www.dfat.gov.au). Travel to countries with a band 4 DFAT
warning must be approved by the Vice Chancellor; no travel will be approved to
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countries with a band 5 DFAT warning. Contact the Manager, Staff Health if you
wish to travel to these countries.
3.
Do you foresee any personal safety or other risk or danger to yourself, coresearchers, fellow researchers or research participants in this research?
Yes
No
If you answered YES, discuss the risks involved and your strategies to minimize
them.
If you answered NO, give reasons.
4.
Is it necessary for you to obtain specific authorisations (eg. National or
provincial government permit, research visa, local ethics review approval, other
relevant authorisation) to undertake the proposed research activity? You must
consult the relevant authorities about this issue.
Yes
No
If you answered YES, list the authorisation(s) required and the granting body.
If you answered NO, give reasons.
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5.
Are there any local organisations or other bodies with a ‘gate-keeping’ role
relevant to the proposed research activity?
Yes
No
If you answered YES, list the groups involved and explain how they will be informed
about the proposed research activities and your relationship with them.
If you answered NO, give reasons.
6.
If the proposed research activity involves participation of members of a specific
group or groups (eg church group, non-government organisation, corporation,
commercial organisation, government department etc) has approval of that
organisation been obtained?
Yes
If you answered YES, list the groups and attach copies of relevant
correspondence.
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No
N/A
If you answered NO or N/A, give reasons.
7.
Does the proposed research activity involve an intermediary in any facilitation
or brokering role (eg in recruiting research participants, advocating your
activity to authorities etc)?
Yes
No
If you answered YES, provide the name and explain the role of the intermediary.
Attach copies of relevant correspondence.
If you answered NO, give reasons.
8.
Does the proposed research activity involve the participation of vulnerable
people or groups who are not formally organised (eg people living in a
community or locality, members of an occupational or social category etc)?
Yes
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No
If you answered YES, indicate the context of the research, how you will obtain access
and any ethical issues that you can foresee. Please address in detail how vulnerability
will be mitigated.
9.
Is it appropriate for individual consent to be obtained from people participating
in the proposed research activity?
Yes
No
N/A
If you answered YES, indicate whether written consent is appropriate. If written
consent is appropriate, you will have completed Section 7 of the application form, and
a copy of the consent form will be attached. If you propose to obtain verbal consent,
explain how you will record this consent. Please note that even in circumstances
involving verbal consent, researchers will be expected to provide a written project
information sheet (translated into local language where necessary) and to consider
ethical issues involving verbal consent. Discuss these matters here if appropriate.
If you answered NO, give reasons.
If you answered NA, please explain why the question is not applicable to your
project.
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10.
Does the proposed research activity involve any coercion, deception or
misrepresentation in obtaining information?
Yes
No
If you answered YES, give details and explain how you will address ethical concerns
arising from this approach to obtaining information.
11. Does the proposed research activity involve secretive use of any photography,
video recording, audio recording or other recording method?
Yes
No
If you answered YES, give details and a justification for the secrecy.
12.
Will the proposed research activity necessarily involve the acquisition of
material objects or information that is regarded by participants as valuable
cultural property (eg material artefacts, works of art, songs, cultural
information, traditional ecological knowledge including knowledge of medicinal
plants)?
Yes
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No
If you answered YES, discuss how the intellectual property rights of the owners or
creators of this valuable cultural property will be protected, and how the collective
interests of those affected by its acquisition will be protected. Where specific permits
to use, acquire, export or publish images of or information about such cultural
property are required you will have completed Question 3 of Appendix B.
13.
Will the proposed research activity require discovery and/or disclosure of
information from records or participants of a personal, private or sensitive
nature?
Yes
No
If you answered YES, identify the sort of information involved and what provisions
you have made to protect the interests and privacy of the individuals affected. You
may cross-reference to your answer in Section 6 of the application form if
appropriate, but in the case of overseas research the Committee is also concerned to
ensure that disclosure of personal information to foreign governments and agencies
does not place research participants or researchers at risk.
If you answered NO, and your research involves acquiring information about
individuals, discuss any privacy or confidentiality issues not addressed elsewhere in
the application.
14.
Will the proposed research activity involve any activities that are seen as
inappropriate or in conflict with local practices or government requirements
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regarding religious or cultural practices, customary law or good research
practices?
Yes
No
If you answered YES, give details and justify.
15.
Have you made provision in your research methods for training of local research
assistants, interpreters and others carrying out duties on your behalf in the
field?
Yes
No
N/A
If you answered YES, give details of the provisions that have been made and how
they were arrived at.
If you answered NO, give details.
If you answered NA, please explain why the question is not applicable to your
project.
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16.
Are there any other ethical concerns arising from the overseas location of the
proposed research activity?
Yes
If you answered YES, give details.
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No