If you answered 'Yes' to ANY of the above questions then you should complete the fast track application form for academic ethical approval form .

The following questions are taken from the University's fast track form and are intended to help you decide whether a full application for academic ethical approval form is required.

Consider your project proposal or research topic and ask yourself the following questions:

• Will you describe the main procedures in advance so that participants know what to expect?
• Will you tell participants that their participation is voluntary?
• Will you obtain the participants written consent?
• If the research is observational, will you ask participants for their consent to being observed?
• Will you tell participants that they may withdraw from the research at any time and for any reason?
• With questionnaires and interviews will you give participants the option of omitting questions they do not want to answer?
• Will you tell participants that their data will be treated with full confidentiality and that, if published, it will not be identifiable as theirs?
• Will you give participants the opportunity to be debriefed i.e. to find out more about the study and its results?

If you have answered 'No' to ANY of the above questions then you should complete the full application for academic ethical approval .

And finally consider your project proposal or research topic and ask yourself the following questions which are again taken from the University's fast track form:

• Will your project deliberately mislead participants in any way?
• Is there any realistic risk of any participants experiencing either physical or psychological distress or discomfort?
• Is the nature of the research such that contentious or sensitive issues might be involved?
• Does your project involve work with animals?
• Do participants fall into any of the following special groups? - Children (under 18 years of age); people with communication or learning difficulties; patients; people in custody; people who could be regarded as vulnerable; people engaged in illegal activities (e.g. drug taking )
• Does the project involve external funding or external collaboration where the funding body or external collaborative partner requires the University to provide evidence that the project had been subject to ethical scrutiny?

If you have answered 'Yes' to ANY of the above questions then you should complete the full application for academic ethical approval.

Where do I submit the completed form?

The completed academic ethics form, whether disclaimer, fast track or full application, should be submitted to the Faculty reception point, K266, Octagon Building , for all Stafford based students and to room B161, Brindley Building , for all Stoke based students. All forms must be signed by a member of academic staff, normally your project supervisor.

What happens if the scope of my project changes during the course of my research?

You are recommended to submit another University academic ethics form.

Ask yourself the questions given above and follow the information given.

Questionnaires

If you intend to gather information by using a questionnaire you should be aware of the following:

• Participants within questionnaires MUST NOT be named. Use an indicator within the project if you need to refer to a specific result.
• Written consent is required from a parent or legal guardian if your questionnaire involves any person under the age of 18 years. Written consent is required from every participant(s) on separate consent form(s). A consent form should not be combined with an information sheet. Example of a consent form.
• An information sheet should be included if your project includes a questionnaire or testing of some material. The information sheet should introduce yourself, provide a background to the project, outline what will be required and confirm what happens at the end of the project. An information sheet should not be combined with a consent form and should be of a professional standard. Example of an information sheet.
• Projects involving participants under the age of 18 years of age must be supervised. Provide the name(s) of the person or persons who will be supervising the participants. Normally such persons will need to be Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checked (financial cost involved) unless they are the parent or legal guardian of the child/children concerned. Providing that you are being supervised at all times you do not need a CRB check to undertake a questionnaire involving participants under the age of 18 years of age.
• Written consent is required if your project involves testing information within a formal setting e.g. school or college or filming on private property. .
• Postal questionnaires do not require a consent form since the act of completing and returning the questionnaire implies informed consent.
• Ensure that the sample is statistically meaningful.
• Questionnaires should be destroyed when the project is complete.

Filming

If you film in a public place you must complete a risk assessment and have a copy of the University's public Liability insurance with you (copies available from the Secretary to the Academic Ethics Team or from film lecturers).

Permission is required to film on private property. Permission is also required from the Police and from the relevant Council to film in public areas. Be advised that filming around certain areas e.g. military camps, prisons and in certain conditions e.g. at night may well attract a strong police presence and that the police have the power to disband a group of 7 under anti-terrorism laws and if filming obstructs the highway.

Health and Safety

Advice will be sought from the Faculty's Health and Safety Team in relation to any project where a health and safety concern or issue is identified e.g. testing equipment in remote areas, designing or building prototypes of certain equipment.

Intellectual Property Rights:

• The University owns the intellectual property rights of all work produced during your studies (section 18, page 17 of the General Regulations for Students approved 28 June 2006). If you wish to include any artefacts produced during your project e.g. film or video within your portfolio you MUST write to the Faculty Business Manager to request approval;

Faculty Business Manager
Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Technology,
Staffordshire University,
Beaconside,
PO Box 334,
Stafford,
ST16 9DG