Research Ethics in the School of Education

The School of Education is the site of a large number of research projects carried out by staff and students and is aware of the responsibilities and duties that such work involves. The School is committed to the conduct of high-quality research that is guided by the latest understandings of research ethics and their place in all research design. In its research activity, the School is committed to ethical principles that include:

• a commitment to the well-being, protection and safety of participants;
• a duty to respect the rights and wishes of participants;
• an evaluation of the relative benefits of any research to groups and individuals
• a responsibility to conduct rigorous, academic research;
• a commitment to disseminate the results of research in an honest and truthful manner to all who may be affected by the research or those who should be informed about the research
  

There are a number of concepts that all research in the School must address. These include:
1. minimising risk of harm;
2. informed consent and freedom to withdraw;
3. avoidance of disclosure of non-processed data and anonymity
4. data storage, access, retention and destruction
5. awareness and recognition of power relations in asymmetrical educational relationships.

Some research in the School is also conducted with children and members of vulnerable groups and in these cases further ethical demands must be met. These include:

6. child protection principles;
7. legal obligations and policy commitments in relation to children and members of vulnerable groups;
8. an inclusive approach to research.

In order to ensure the highest level of ethical research, the School has a Research Ethics Committee (REC). This is an ad hoc committee that comprises the Director of Research, the Director of Teaching and Learning [Postgraduate] and the Director of the Doctorate in Education programme. This committee may also call upon the services of a lay member, or expert members in certain cases.

In the case of staff research that requires ethical approval, and where ethical approval has not been granted in another recognised institution or body, all such research must be approved by the School’s REC.

In the case of student research projects at Masters’ and PhD level, it is the responsibility of the student to complete a research ethics checklist in consultation with their supervisor. In the case of low-risk projects, the supervisor has the authority to sign-off that all ethical requirements are being met in the design and conduct of the project, or she/he may refer the proposal to the REC for its consideration. The student checklist is available here [PDF].

Questions concerning the ethical conduct of research in the School of Education can be addressed to the Director of Research, School of Education, Trinity College Dublin.