Ethics

Research Ethics

The University Ethics Policy provides a general framework for professional practice and decision making on ethical issues as they arise in the work of the University.  The University Ethics Committee (UEC) is responsible for ensuring that appropriate consideration is given to ethical issues relating to the main activities of the University, including Research.  Details of UEC membership and minutes of meetings are available. 

The UEC has delegated aspects of its work to Faculty Ethics Committees (FEthCs) which meet at regular intervals to review all ethical issues that result from activity within the faculty.. 

Guiding Principles Underpinning Research Ethics

There are six key principles of ethical research that the University of Portsmouth upholds:

• Research should be designed, reviewed and undertaken to ensure integrity, quality and transparency;
• Research staff and participants must normally be informed fully about the purpose, methods and intended possible uses of the research, what their participation in the research entails and what risks, if any, are involved. Some variation is allowed in very specific and exceptional research contexts;
• Confidential information supplied by research participants or provided by external agencies must be treated accordingly and the anonymity of respondents (when agreed) must be respected;
• Research participants must participate voluntarily, free from any coercion;
• Harm to research participants must be minimal in all instances;
• The independence of research must be clear, and any conflicts of interest or partiality must be explicit.

University policy requires that all research undertaken by staff is subject to ethical review. Research involving human participants must be ethically reviewed by a Faculty Ethics Committee. This requirement extends to other research which might be regarded as sensitive or raising material ethical concerns, including those relating to the integrity of the environment.

Submission of Proposals to External Ethical Review Committees

As a matter of policy and, in some cases, law, some research has to be reviewed by external bodies. The most obvious example of this is NHS research which is any research involving NHS patients, relatives and carers and NHS data. Further guidance can be found on the Health Research Authority website. This guidance is derived from a more detailed document – Governance Arrangements for Research Ethics Committees (GAfREC). GAfREC also specifies research which must be reviewed by a NHS REC (regardless of whether NHS patients are involved) as a matter of law. This includes research involving human tissue, adults lacking capacity to consent, Clinical Trials of Investigative Medicinal Products, trials of medical devices and research involving ionising radiation. In these cases, you would need to apply to the external body for ethics approval, but you also need to advise your FEC of your application and provide them with copies of all relevant paperwork (application form, queries, response and decisions). It is University policy that only one formal ethical review should take place; if the review must be conducted by a NHS REC then its opinion will suffice for University purposes. Most FECs will wish to consider external applications before they are submitted so that any necessary advice and support can be provided and so that agreement to sponsor the study can be recorded.

Useful External Links

• RCUK Policy and Code of Conduct on the Governance of Good Research Conduct
• Universities UK: The Concordat to support Research Integrity
• National Research Ethics Service (NRES)
• ESRC Framework for Research Ethics