Psychology Departmental Research Ethics Board(Psych-REB)September 2012Dr. Jill Singleton-Jackson, Chair

Overview Introduction: Why an ethics review? Procedures: Submission and review Tips & key issues for your method Common reasons for non-approval Closing remarks

Overview Introduction: Why an ethics review? Procedures: Submission and review Tips & key issues for your method Common reasons for non-approval Closing remarks

What is it? Who is this for? All research that is done at the University of

Windsor must first get ethics clearance.

The Psychology Departmental Research Ethics Board (Psych-REB) is a satellite of the University of Windsor Research Ethics Board

The Psychology REB approves undergraduate projects that are completed in a 12 month period.

This is of special interest to undergraduates who are beginning 4th year honours theses

Purpose of the Psych-REB1. Ensure that research participants are

being treated in ways that respect their dignity and integrity

2. Teach students about ethical practices and standards in conducting psychological research

3. Create a paper trail that demonstrates ethical conduct if and when concerns arise at any level (departmental, university, tri-council, civil law)

Educational Objectives To help thesis students better understand the

ethical issues at hand. Informed consent Minimal risk…

Create a tutorial on ethics through the application (rather than it being a “black box” process).

Streamline the process to allow for less down time and more student involvement.

Overview Introduction: Why an ethics review? Procedures: Submission and review Tips & key issues for your method Common reasons for non-approval Closing remarks

How to Submit an application1. Print out and complete the “Ethics

Application” by hand or fill it out online.2. Download and modify the “Informed Consent

Form” to suit your project. 3. (If applicable, you may also need to print out

and complete the “Deception Checklist”). 4. Use the first page of the application form to

ensure that your package is complete.5. Make a copy. Ethics applications are

submitted in duplicate (even revised applications must be submitted in duplicate).

6. Submit the 2 separate packages* together to the Psych-REB chairperson. *(i.e. 2 paperclips please!)

7. Feedback from Psych-REB in about 10-14 days.

Forms are on the psychology, undergraduate website http://www.uwindsor.ca/psychology http://www.uwindsor.ca/psychology/

undergraduate-thesis-results

Let’s go over the forms...

Feedback Approved in its present form

Pending minor changes specified below. (These changes can be made by the student

researcher alone, and there is no need to resubmit these changes to the Psych-REB).

Pending minor changes & resubmission. (Changes are specified and resubmission to the

Psych-REB for final approval and clearance). Pending major changes.

(Project requires major changes, which are specified, and must be resubmitted before receiving ethical clearance).

Overview Introduction: Why an ethics review? Procedures: Submission and review Tips & key issues for your design Common reasons for non-approval Closing remarks

6 Tips for Ethical Research designs Following are some practical tips for

designing and conducting research that is ethical.

Tip #1 for Ethical Research: Vulnerable Populations Children, the elderly, animals…

People with mental health problems… Research with vulnerable populations

will likely be extensively reviewed and may have to go through the UW-REB.

Tip #2 for Ethical Research: Informed Consent Participants must know and

understand what they are getting themselves into.

A clear and consistent presentation in advertisements, consent forms, etc. is key.

Tip #3 for Ethical Research: Refer to the Literature There are some research paradigms which

are well documented in peer-reviewed literature. If your study makes use of an established procedure you should:

Cite relevant research that used similar designs, especially if there is research indicating whether there were or were not harmful effects to participants.

Provide and consider the year of the study Milgram!

Tip #4 for Ethical Research: Participants leave feeling in the same state as when they came Some procedures are emotionally evocative

or shift participants’ expectations in some way. If you do this it is good practice to:

1. Provide a follow-up intervention to help participants return to a positive or at least neutral state before they leave the study. A “mood neutralizer” could be in the form of a relaxation exercise or imagining/remembering some positive experience.

2. After a “mood neutralizer”, it is good practice to ask participants to rate their current level of distress or anxiety on a scale of 1 to 10;

– this is a manipulation check to ensure that participants feel “normal” again before they leave.

Tip #5 for Ethical Research: Debriefing A debriefing in which the true nature of the

study is disclosed to participants and an opportunity to ask questions is an important part of data collection from human participants. A good debriefing tries to:

1. Engage the participant as a collaborator to discuss the process he/she was involved in.

2. Disclose to the participant, in plain everyday language and in sufficient detail, exactly what has happened in the data collection process and the true nature of the study.

3. Explain the rationale for using the method in this particular study.

4. Provide an opportunity for participants to ask questions of clarification.

5. Provide, in writing, resources and/or contacts for participant who may have concerns that have come to bear through the nature of the study.

Tip #6 for Ethical Research: Protect Trust Participants initially volunteer to partake in

whatever the study entails. In doing so they entrust themselves to the researcher and the institution that is hosting the research.

It is important to ensure that participants do not feel embarrassed or betrayed as a result of research procedures.

When the study and debriefing is complete, is there a reasonable possibility that participants may perceive that there has been a betrayal of trust or that they have somehow been treated unfairly?

Overview Introduction: Why an ethics review? Procedures: Submission and review Tips & key issues for your method Common reasons for non-approval Closing remarks

Top 8 most common set backsInadequate consent forms (#1 - 4)1. Did not use the informed consent

template as a guide and therefore did not include essential information.

2. Did not provide contact information for a. student (you), b. Dr. XXX, supervisor of the project (who is

ultimately responsible for addressing participant concerns), and/or

c. Chairperson of the Psych-REB.3. Used the UW REB contact information

instead of the Psychology-REB contact info.

4. Did not include a section in consent form giving permission to use the data in subsequent studies:(when you or your supervisor plans to do so) OR did not state that data will not be used in subsequent studies.

Top 8 most common set backs continued…5. Participant pool ad missing: Did not include

a recruitment ad to be approved for use in the Participant Pool.

6. Participant pool points: Presented participation time in a way that was not in line with Participant Pool standards • (Currently, 30 minutes of participation = .5 bonus

points).

7. Incomplete packages: Did not submit ALL materials in duplicate (or did not re-submit in duplicate).

8. Inconsistencies between the application form, method section, and consent forms.• i.e. The title on the ethics submission form is different

than that stated on the consent and/or recruitment ad.

Overview Introduction: Why an ethics review? Procedures: Submission and review Tips & key issues for your method Common reasons for non-approval Closing remarks

Using archival data? Attention: Students using archival data for which

data collection has already been approved, (perhaps by the University REB on behalf of a supervisor)….

If what you are doing is already within the limits of the approved study then you must submit only the first page of the ethics application to the Psych-REB and include on that page the:

1. Ethics approval number of Uwindsor REB2. Date of the application.3. Name and signature of the Principal Investigator of

whoever made the submission.

1. HOWEVER…. are you planning to collect MORE data?

ContactDr. Jill Singleton-Jackson

Chair, Psychology Departmental Research Ethics Board.University of WindsorWindsor, ON N9B 3X2519-253-3000 ext. 4706email: jjackson@uwindsor.ca

Questions?