Research ethics

All research involving human participants and confidential materials, carried out by students in the School of Arts is subject to an ethics approval process. This is to ensure that the rights of participants and researchers alike are protected at all times, and to underline our commitment to excellence in research across a wide range of subjects.

If you are undertaking any such research work for a dissertation, project, thesis etc. please complete the form ‘Proposal for Ethical Review template’ and pass this to your academic supervisor.  The proposal will be reviewed and assessed as ‘routine’ or ‘non-routine’.   In most cases it is envisaged that such work will be routine, and your supervisor will inform you of the outcome.  In a small number of cases, the proposal may be referred to the School’s Ethics Committee for further consideration.  Again, you will be informed of any outcome.

The proposal form is available here.  If you have any queries, please speak to your supervisor in the first instance.

Further guidelines are available on the MyBirkbeck website at http://www.bbk.ac.uk/mybirkbeck/services/facilities/support/research-ethics.