Research Ethics

A. Introduction

The Faculty of Communication and Culture recognizes the freedom of faculty and students to conduct research, and is committed to promoting and facilitating the research process as much as possible.

It is important to note, however, that researchers have certain obligations as well. The purpose of these policies and guidelines is, therefore, to ensure that researchers in the faculty conduct their studies in a manner that meets the highest ethical standards and conforms with the University's guidelines governing research involving human subjects. The primary rationale behind these obligations is to protect our research subjects.

To make sure that researchers are responsible to their subjects, the University has put in place procedures that must be followed by anyone doing research which involves human subjects. Our faculty guidelines flow from these university procedures, and so in situations where there is any discrepancy between faculty and university policies, the latter will take precedence.

  

B. Research Requiring Ethics Approval

When do I require ethics approval?

If you plan to conduct research that involves human subjects, you are required to seek, and receive, ethics approval from the appropriate research ethics board/committee before proceeding with your study. >> More

  

C. Procedure for Review of Ethics Applications

The Faculty of Communication and Culture Ethics Committee has disbanded for the summer.  All applications should be forwarded to the Conjoint Faculties Research Ethics Board (CFREB) in Research Services.  For more information please visit their website at http://www.ucalgary.ca/research/ 

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D. Consent

See guidelines on using consent forms and samples at:

U of C Ethics Policy Statement

U of C Consent Process

  

E. Debriefing

Debriefing refers to interactions with your research subjects after the interview/experiment/etc., in order to address any issues, needs or questions that may have arisen as a result of the research process. It is also required where your research is likely to cause emotional or psychological concerns for your subjects. If your research entails deception in order to get at some issues, for instance, you are required to debrief your subjects.

Note: Debriefing may require the use of relevant experts, such as qualified counsellors.

  

F. Retention of Data

All students of the Faculty of Communication and Culture are required to retain their data for at least two years from when they submit final copies of their work, and at most five years from when they do so. If they need to retain material beyond the five-year limit, they will have to justify that in their application for ethics review.

Faculty members may retain data for at least five years. If they need to retain material beyond the five-year limit, they will have to justify that in their application for ethics review.

Faculty members may retain data for at least five years. If they need to retain material beyond the five-year limit, they will have to justify that in their application for ethics review.
Note: You may apply for an extension of the retention period at a later date if circumstances require that you keep data longer than indicated in your original application. The procedures to follow in such a case are similar to what you will follow if seeking modifications to an existing protocol. That is, you should request the modification in writing, providing a detailed description of the change(s) that are planned. The request may be made by regular mail or by email. See

U of C Ethics Policy Statement

  

G. Course-Based Research Projects

If any student in your course performs research with human participants as part of an assignment or class participation (i.e. surveys, interviews, observation), he/she must receive research ethics approval before beginning to recruit participants. Without course-based ethics approval, each and every student project must be approved through a full student application to the Faculty Research Ethics Committee.

Course-based ethics approval is a way to expedite review when a significant number of student projects in a course involve human participants. The Faculty Research Ethics Committee can temporarily delegate limited ethics committee authority to an instructor of a specific undergraduate or graduate course. In order to delegate this authority, the ethics committee must ensure instructors know enough about the relevant ethical guidelines that apply to their students' research. >> More

Application Form

  

H. Faculty Ethics Committee

Questions or concerns about ethics policies and procedures may be directed to the Chair, Dr. Lloyd Sciban, or any member of the committee. Currently these are the members of the Faculty Ethics Committee:

• Naor Cohen - Graduate Research Assistant
  
• Dr. Charlene Elliott
• Dr. Fiona Nelson
• Dr. Brian Rusted
  
• Dr. Lloyd Sciban (Chair)
  
• Dr. Chui-Ling Tam