Ethics Filter Committee

Guidance about research governance and the processes to follow are explained on the research portal.

Research governance is a process for managing research. Its purpose is to ensure that the University’s research is well-designed, led and conducted by suitably qualified and experienced people and complies with relevant policies and laws. It applies to all human research, and to regulated research in all areas.

Research ethics is about ensuring that your research – especially if it involves human participants or subjects – is carried out appropriately. It is also about identifying and managing risks to participants and to you, the people carrying out the research.

Filter committees are in place across the University to ensure that all areas in which human research takes place are represented.

The Learning Enhancement Directorate Ethics Filter Committee, (LEDEFC), chaired by Dr Claire Campbell, considers pedagogic research being undertaken by staff inside the University as well as projects completed as part of the MEd programme.

Please note that LEDEC provides approval for Category A research (low risk), projects.

Learning Enhancement Directorate Ethics Filter Committee, (LEDEFC).

Only staff doing pedagogic research or MEd students should apply to this filter committee.

If you are unsure if your research fits here then contact the committee chair, Dr Claire Campbell at c.campbell2@ulster.ac.uk

Your application, (RG1a, RG2 (peer review report form), research protocol, participant participation sheet, consent form, questionnaires chief investigator CV and associated relevant documents), should be submitted to the committee via the Ethics Portal: Visit the Ethics Portal

Submission Dates

Applications for ethical approval should be submitted on the first  Monday of each month, (unless the Monday is a bank holiday)

At the conclusion of the filter committee process, you will receive an RG3 report form which will detail any changes you need to make and the next steps you need to take.

Filter Committee Members

• Dr Claire Campbell (Chair), School of Psychology
• Dr Brian McGowan, Centre for Professional Practice Enhancement
• Dr Sarah Floyd, Centre for Professional Practice Enhancement
• Tandy Haughey, School of Sport
• Professor David Barr, School of Education
• Dr Laura Bradley-McCauley, Department of Global Business & Enterprise
• Dr Ellen Bell, Centre for  Digital learning Enhancement
• Mr Edward Carlsson Browne, Centre for  Digital learning Enhancement
• Dr Kieran Higgins,  Centre for Curriculum Enhancement and Approval
• Dr Victoria Price, Centre for Quality Enhancement

Please click on the Guidance Notes section of the Ethics Portal to access the templates for RG1a, RG2, Participant Information Sheet, and Consent Form. You will also need to upload a CV for the CI, the Protocol information, and any other associated documents such as draft questionnaires, focus group questions etc.

It is advisable that you complete the Research Integrity course, which you will find on BlackBoard Learn under Staff Development  and Mandatory Training Courses, before designing your research and applying for ethical approval.

The following are potential peer reviewers.  Please factor in time to approach a peer reviewer to ascertain their availability to engage in the peer review process within the time frame for your submission.

Potential Peer Reviewers

• Professor Owen Barr, School of Nursing
• Dr Heather Coleman, School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Dr Deborah Lowry, School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Dr Andrea Reid, Department of Management, Leadership and Marketing
• Dr Rachael Telford, School of Sport

Online Surveys and GDPR compliance

A corporate licence for the JISC survey tool has been purchased.  This has become an industry standard with around 88% of UK Universities using it and it is GDPR compliant.

The University’s position is that the JISC survey tool is preferable to other free surveys and it should be used for all new research. Qualtrics may still be used as it offers more analytical tools than JISC and is more suitable for certain research.

The ISD portal is the contact point to apply to use JISC survey tool.  The application process includes a check that the person applying has read the necessary documents.

If you would like to setup a one-to-one meeting for advice on making an application to this filter committee, please email your request and details to professionalpractice@ulster.ac.uk

Please note that those applying as part of the MEd will receive advice from the Project Module Coordinator and their Supervisor.