Ethical Screening of Research Projects

Conducted Through Courses of the ERS Program

Introduction

All students conducting research in Environmental and Resource Studies (ERS) Program courses that involves human subjects must be aware of the required ethical protocol.

This protocol was drafted by the Environmental and Resource Studies Ethics Committee (Magda Havas, David Holdsworth and Tom Whillans) in 1999. The screening process has been reviewed for approval by the ERS Program Committee and the Trent University Research Ethics Committee (TUREC).

Preparation of the screening process is intended to conform to the Tri-Council Policy Statement on "Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans", and was guided by materials provided by the TUREC, the guideline "Informed Consent for Bioregional Research in Haliburton County" and the Trent University Psychology Department's process for approving human research.

Forms

The primary form, required for all ERS Program research courses:

• Application for Ethical Review of Proposed ERS Research Form

If your ERS Program research involves human subjects, you will also need these forms:

• Statement of Content Concerning the Use of Human Subjects in ERS Research
• Subject Informed Consent in ERS Research Form
  • choose default form in PDF format OR
  • choose form in word format in order to customize to your research

 

General Procedure for Ethical Screening of Research Projects

1. All students in ERS courses that could involve research that requires human subjects will be informed of this protocol in lectures or written handouts. When a student in an ERS course expresses interest in undertaking such a research project, their instructor will describe the ethical screening process and the relevant forms.
2. The need to have a project screened by the ERS Ethics Committee will be confirmed through discussions with the course instructor. If the project is in a course that is cross-listed in another academic unit, including the Trent Centre for Community-Based Education, then the student may opt to have it processed through the Ethics Committee of that unit.
3. The researcher will complete the ERS Ethics Committee's form "Application for Ethical Review of Proposed Research" and submit it to the committee (view form or contact David Holdsworth at dholdsworth@trentu.ca).
4. The committee will categorize the application as either
   • routine and complete, or
   • needing special consideration.
     "Special consideration" could mean requiring more information or revision, involving increased risk to the research subject, necessitating full discussion and written guidance from the committee, requiring review by another body (e.g., Trent University Research Ethics Committee, Aboriginal Education Council, etc.).
5. If information or clarification is missing, the researcher will be notified informally by the ERS Ethics Committee and asked to provide it.
6. The committee will review proposals requiring special consideration (see point 4, above).
7. The researcher will be informed in writing of the decision.
8. If the researcher is unhappy with the decision, the application will be referred to the Trent University Research Ethics Committee.