Section outline

  • Stacked wooden blocks spelling out 'Research Ethics'

    You covered ethics in week 2 of ARM 1. It might be worth going over your notes from this class.  

    Not everyone will require ethics approval for their dissertation. Broadly speaking, only those students that collect primary data from human participants — e.g. interviews, surveys, focus groups, experiments, observations - need to get ethics approval. It might also be necessary if you work with personal or sensitive information — e.g. some forms of health data or financial records. Students who base their dissertation on secondary data analysis (datasets already anonymised and in the public domain) or desk-based research (e.g. literature reviews, theoretical or conceptual work) typically don’t need ethics approval. If you are in doubt about whether or not you need ethics approval, talk to you Academic Advisor or Supervisor. 

    If your dissertation research requires ethical approval, then you need to apply to the Global Health Devolved Research Ethics Committee. If this is something you are considering please read the resources below carefully. The time necessary for applying for ethics needs to be factored into your dissertation plan. 

    If you are considering a dissertation that might require ethics please discuss this at your first supervisory meeting! 

    Please watch the video from Dr Jen Randall on research ethics and how to apply for ethical approval:

    Once you have watched the video above please work with your supervisor on completing and submitting the ethics form (download below).

    Note, it is extremely unlikely you will have the time to conduct research within the NHS. Such research requires NHS and QMUL ethical approval, and you simply won't have time to get both in the time available.