Integrity, Ethics and Compliance
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Whether you're a student or staff member, our goal is to provide you with easy access to the tools and information you need.
The HREC executive team run fortnightly online drop-in sessions where you can ask questions about submitting a proposal. Use the link to register for the next ethics cafe.
The HREC executive team have developed a series of short videos. These videos cover the fundamental considerations when preparing a research project. Topics include participant information sheets, consent forms, surveys and interviews, and recruitment.
The National Statement highlights that the principle of research merit and integrity is essential to ensuring good research. This guide outlines the forms of evidence the HREC will accept as evidence of the academic merit of your research.
This resource outlines appropriate and respectful terminology to use when collecting demographic information about participants.
You may like to compensate your research participants for their time through a payment or gift voucher but it can be difficult to determine what is appropriate. The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) provides information to assist in determining what is ethically acceptable.
More about payment of research participants
Research can cause participants to experience distress, or you may be looking at sensitive topics where your participants are likely to need support. You may like to direct participants to Charles Sturt Support Services, Lifeline, Beyond Blue or their GP in your participant information sheet or debrief statement. To best support participants, you should include support services that are most relevant to your research topic.
More support services for participants
If your research involves government employees or takes place on government property (like hospitals, schools, or the Department of Defence), you'll likely need ethics approval from the relevant government department. You may need to apply to the government ethics body before seeking approval from Charles Sturt University. Check with the appropriate governing body for their approval process.
If your research involves children, you need to understand section 4.2 of the National Statement. Consider the child's age, their ability to agree to the research, and the need for parental consent. The research team should have current working with children checks for all relevant areas, and these should be listed on the participant information sheet.
Section 4.3 of the National Statement emphasizes the need to minimize pressure on people in dependent or unequal relationships to participate in research. At Charles Sturt University, this often occurs when students are asked to join staff research projects.
To avoid any real or perceived coercion, use an arms-length approach during recruitment. Ensure that students' decisions to participate do not affect their academic results. Consider using an independent third party to recruit students and obtain their consent, or use surveys instead of interviews.