Assignment Task
Categorisation of applications for ethical approval
Category A projects are less likely to involve participants from vulnerable groups (e.g. children, or persons with disabilities) and/or involve sensitive issues or areas/activities that entail a level of risk of distress or harm to participants or researchers. They only need to be approved by your supervisor and do not need to be considered by the Research Ethics Committee. The Research Ethics Policy provides further guidance on categorisation and areas of risk.
Category A+ for specific cases of withholding information / intentional deceit as occurs in single blind or double blind trials (as described above), where the only reason for identifying the project as a Category B is the withholding of information / intentional deceit. If there is any other aspect of the study that would lead to a Category B categorisation (e.g. the study involves a vulnerable group such as children, people with a disability, or those with a mental health problem, who are not persons with whom the applicant normally works: see clause 10.1.5 of Research Ethics Policy) then the exception does not apply and the application for ethical approval is classified as Category B and treated accordingly. The application would be approved by the line manager/supervisor (as with Category A applications) and also by an independent scrutiniser drawn from a pool of experienced researchers within the Institute/Department approved by its Head/Director. They do not need to be considered by the Research Ethics Committee. This would apply to category A+ applications from undergraduate students as well as staff and postgraduates.
Category B projects need to be considered by the Research Ethics Committee. The process of approval can take several weeks or longer depending on the number of applications being considered at any one time and the resolution of any issues that are raised by the Committee. It is fairly common for applications to be returned for further amendments prior to approval. The Committee expects applications from students to be of the same quality as those from staff. A helpful way to consider this position is to consider the research project from the point of view of the research participant.
Undergraduate or taught postgraduate student applicants: Your tutors and programme team will be able to advise you on how and when to complete this form. Your project supervisor is responsible for categorising your application as Category A, A+ or Category B and for authorising it