Preparing an ethics application for higher educational research projects: practical tips and strategies

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Research into the learning and teaching experiences of students and staff is increasingly highly valued and useful in providing an evidence-base for improving educational experiences. Core ethical principles should always be followed in research design, whether you are designing your study for a publishable research outcome or evaluating teaching and learning for your own purposes or internal discussion. However, a formal ethics review will be required where your research project involves human participants, such as teachers and students, or where it involves personal or sensitive data, and where you have a plan to publish, present or publicly share your findings.

Cambridge now has a process for applying for ethics review of internal institutional educational research projects, supported by the Cambridge Higher Education Studies Research Ethics Committee (CHESREC). This will be of interest to staff and students initiating research studies of their teaching, learning, assessment or other related educational experiences within Cambridge.

This workshop will provide an introduction to the ethics application process for colleagues interested in developing, and eventually publishing, their teaching, learning or other related educational projects. It will:

1. provide an overview of ethical principles underpinning research with human participants (teachers and students)

2. clarify the difference amongst evaluation, evaluative research and research projects

3. discuss common ethical issues related to ‘insider’ or practice-based research

4. illustrate aligning appropriate methods with research questions and anticipated participants

5. demystify the ethics review process

6. offer practical tips about what you need to prepare for your ethics application

Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions and seek advice about their potential higher educational research projects. All are encouraged to bring draft project ideas, and will be shown some exemplar ethics applications.

For more information contact CHESREC chesrec@admin.cam.ac.uk

All staff and students

Number of sessions: 1

• AEPP: Induction & Workshops 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
• Research Ethics and Integrity   [Provided by Cambridge Research Office]