To complete a new ethics protocol submission, or to view your existing submissions, use the PPLS-wide Ethics Submission Portal. For more information on submitting, refer our the main information page.
- For full instructions (with pictures!) head to this page. Otherwise, the basics:
- For research with live participants or with pre-existing data the use of which requires ethical review:
- Go to the PPLS-wide Ethics Submission Portal.
- Answer all the required questions on the application form, using these example answers as a guide.
- Upload all required forms as indicated on the portal.
- Most projects require submission of consent or information forms and recruitment materials (if relevant).
- Please use the consent templates available on the here.
- All revisions/edits to your submitted documents require (re-)approval. Please check accuracy, grammar, and spelling!
- Your application will be anonymously reviewed by the LEL Ethics Committee (within two weeks, not including time for reviewing any requested revisions.)
- If you are making amendments to an existing project, see this guidance.
(Note : these instructions pertain to 3rd year undergraduate Study Abroad students, as well.)
If your project requires ethical approval, you will proceed in three stages: (1) training and preparation, (2) application submission, done with your supervisor, following the steps above, (3) carrying out ethical practice after ethical approval is obtained.
(1) Preparing before you submit your application
Training: the LEL Research Ethics Training Learn module includes a short training course and quiz. All UG students and all MSc students must complete this module as part of the dissertation process. If you have trouble accessing the Learn module, contact lel.ethics@ed.ac.uk
- Are you testing any vulnerable populations (e.g., children, adults with disabilities, prisoners)?
- Could your study result in harm to the participant or the experimenter?
- How will you obtain informed consent?
- How will you recruit participants? If through a mailing list, see here.
- Will any of the data you collect be non-anonymous?
- How will you ensure data are securely stored at all times?
- Do you have plans for disseminating your data? For example, do you want to share it with other researchers? Feed it back to the community your are studying? How will you do this in a way which protects your participants’ privacy?
Draft documents: draft your consent form and any other required documentation (i.e., information sheets if separate, debriefing form, recruitment letter). You must use our consent form templates.
Contact your supervisor: email your draft documentation to your supervisor. Then together, you should complete the steps below.
(2) Submitting an application
- For research with live participants or with pre-existing data the use of which requires ethical review:
- Your supervisor should log into the PPLS-wide Ethics Submission Portal.
- Together, answer all the required questions on the application form. Check out some example answers.
- Upload all required forms as indicated on the portal.
- Most projects require submission of consent or information forms and recruitment materials (if relevant).
- Remember: you must use the consent templates available here.
- All revisions/edits to your submitted documents require (re-)approval, therefore please, please, check accuracy, grammar, and spelling!
- Your application will be anonymously reviewed by the LEL Ethics Committee. The review will be complete within two weeks. If you are required to submit revisions the process may be longer.
- You may not start data collection until you have obtained ethical approval.
(3) Being ethical after your study is complete
- If you have sought and received ethical approval by the PPLS Ethics Committee, please document this in your dissertation (for example, cite your reference number in a footnote).
- Give all consent forms to your supervisor!
- Follow through with your data storage plans, including securely sharing data with your supervisor.
Your supervisor’s responsibilities:
- Help you consider the ethical implications of your research and map out a timeline for gaining ethical approval.
- Read/comment on your draft documents.
- Submit the application (ideally with you present).
Deadline: there is no hard deadline for applying for ethical review for your project. However, please note that the minimum time for review (after your application has been submitted) is two weeks. You may not begin collecting any data until you have been approved.
Getting help: please check out the extensive guidance (with pictures!) for all things LEL Ethics on this page. If you need more help, feel free to contact lel.ethics@ed.ac.uk any time.