Introduction

Do I need Human Ethics Approval?

Research undertaken by staff or students that collects data directly from or about human beings usually requires ethics approval before the research can commence.

Applicants who are not current staff or students of Murdoch, or who have adjunct or emeritus status, may be required to pay an application fee.

Research that must be reviewed includes:

• Questionnaires or Surveys

  Questionnaires or Surveys

  • Structured Interviews
  • Unstructured interviews
  • Questionnaires and Scales
  • Evaluation of classroom learning for research purposes
  • Photographic and video records of individuals

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• Experimentation involving human participants

  Experimentation involving human participants

  • Clinical, laboratory or classroom measurements
  • Clinical or laboratory testing or experimentation using human tissue
  • Counselling and group therapy trials
  • Psychological intervention or testing
  • Administration of therapeutic substances
  • Surgical intervention
  • Medical research

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• Timing of applications

  Timing of applications

  • Ethics approval normally takes a minimum of 3 - 4 weeks.

  • Students should note that, where projects require ethics approval, application should be made as soon as the Program of Study is developed. Application for Human Research Ethics approval is the joint responsibility of the student and the supervisor.

  • Applicants are encouraged to discuss any areas of uncertainty in their proposal with the Research Ethics Office, prior to submitting the application.

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• Expedited Ethics Review

  Expedited Ethics Review

  Applications considered low-risk and which do not involve issues considered contentious or controversial in the wider community, can be considered for expedited approval.

  The schools of Education and Psychology have sub-committees which expedite low-risk applications.  In Education, submit to the ERAP Office. In Psychology, submit to the School Secretary.

  Low-risk applications from schools other than Education and Psychology can also be expedited. You may submit your application to the Research Ethics Office at any time. If the application cannot be expedited, you will be advised that it is to be put onto the next HREC Agenda. For further detail about identifying risk, click here.

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• Minimising Duplication of Ethical Review

  Minimising Duplication of Ethical Review

  Projects that may generate duplication of ethics review include:

  • A research project conducted at more than one institution either by the same or different researchers
  • A research project conducted jointly by researchers affiliated with different institutions
  • A research project being conducted at one institution by a researcher affiliated with another institution
  • A research project approved at one institution and transferred to another
  • Research where more than one institution has responsibility for ethics review

  If your application has not yet been submitted to the other institution, please indicate in your application which institution/s it will be submitted to.

  If you project has already been approved by the HREC of another institution, research ethics approval must still be obtained from Murdoch's HREC but can usually be expedited. In this instance please:

  • Provide a copy of the application that was submitted to the other institution.
  • Complete the first 14 questions of Murdoch's ethics application form.
  • Nominate, as chief investigator, the responsible Murdoch researcher.
  • At question 15 of the Murdoch application form, outline the specific contribution of the Murdoch researcher/s to the project.
  • Attach copies of letters of approval from the other institution(s), including details of any conditions placed on the research.

  If your project is being submitted simultaneously to two or more HRECs, decide which institution is the leading institution.  Obtain advice, if you need, from the Research Ethics Office to assist you to simplify the processes.  Ensure that each institution is forwarded copies of the other institution’s letters of approval, including details of any conditions placed on the research.

  In each case, once approval has been granted the nominated Murdoch researcher is responsible for ensuring that standard report and renewal forms are completed and submitted to the Murdoch Research Ethics Office, and that any adverse events (regardless of where they occur) are promptly reported, in writing, to the Murdoch HREC.

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• Exceptions that do not normally require approval

  Exceptions that do not normally require approval

  • Evaluation activities carried out in the normal course of education such as student feedback surveys, audits and quality reviews
  • Research projects that involve investigation using only publicly available records
  • For advice on this issue, contact the Research Ethics Office.

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