Research ethics

This policy describes the principles of the ethical conduct of research and defines the process for the ethical review of research
Paper people surrounded by hands in gesture of protection. Image courtesy of Shutterstock
Research at the University of Plymouth is conducted according to the principles of integrity, academic excellence, accountability, inclusiveness and professionalism.
All research must follow appropriate ethical, legal and professional frameworks, obligations and standards.
The Research Ethics Policy and the Code of Good Research Practice have been drawn up to conform with the principles laid out in other relevant policies, guidelines and codes of conduct, including those of funding bodies such as the Research Councils and the Universities UK’s Concordat to Support Research Integrity.
The Research Ethics Policy describes the principles underpinning the ethical conduct of research and defines the process and principles for the objective and rigorous ethical review of research which falls within its scope.
It is expected that all research undertaken at the University will be conducted in compliance with the Code of Good Research Practice , which sets out the University’s commitment to research integrity.
Additionally, the University Research Data Policy provides guidelines for good practice in research data management and open access to research data as an integral part of high-quality research.
This policy applies to all employees, students and visiting researchersof the University, including persons holding honorary University appointments and students on placements, who conduct research within, or on behalf of, the University.
All members of the University are individually responsible for ensuring that their work is conducted in accordance with the University values and with all policies that form part of the terms and conditions of employment or study. Disregard for with this policy may lead to the failure of assessed work; the suspension of study/research projects, and/or funding from research sponsors; or to the inability to publish.
Work conducted without the appropriate ethical approval (where required) or in deliberate contravention of the decisions of the Faculty Research Ethics and Integrity (FREIC) Chair would not be covered by the University’s indemnity arrangements.
Student working in the research laboratory
The Research Ethics Policy contains further information relating to the specific areas which are subject to additional regulations that require review through the appropriate research ethics committee/process and require formal approval before the research is undertaken:
  • research involving human participants (page 7)
  • research involving NHS patients, staff or resources (page 13)
  • research involving human tissue (page 17)
  • research involving non-human live organisms (page 20)
Research that may raise other significant ethical issues or pose a reputational risk to researchers or the institution should also be referred for advice and/or review from the appropriate Faculty Research Ethics and Integrity (FREIC) Chair or the University’s Research Ethics and Integrity Committee (UREIC) Secretary.
The purpose of ethical review is not to discourage controversial or high-risk research, but rather, to recognise and manage potential harms and risks related to the pursuit area of research.
For the purpose of this policy, research is defined as original investigation undertaken in order to acquire knowledge and understanding.
This would include:
  • the invention and generation of ideas, images, performances, artefacts including design, leading to new or substantially improved insights
  • work of direct relevance to the needs of commerce, industry, and to the public and voluntary sectors
  • scholarship such as the creation, development and maintenance of the intellectual infrastructure of subjects and disciplines (e.g. dictionaries, catalogues and research databases)
  • the use of existing knowledge and experimentation to develop new or substantially improved materials, devices, products and processes, including design and construction.
Research would not normally include:
  • routine audit and evaluation, such as the routine evaluation of teaching, as distinct from the development of new analytical techniques
  • the development of teaching materials and activities that do not involve original research
  • purely documentary research on sources that are already in the public domain such as historical, literary, and theoretical research
  • routine testing and analysis of materials and processes.

Faculty Research Ethics and Integrity Committees (FREICs)

Arts, Humanities and Business
Admin: Stacey Haynes research.ethics@plymouth.ac.uk
Staff and PhD ethics applications for research in the following schools:
  • Art, Design and Architecture
  • Society and Culture
  • Plymouth Business School
Science and Engineering
Admin: Rebecca Matthews research.ethics@plymouth.ac.uk
Staff and PhD ethics applications for research in the following schools:
  • Engineering, Computing and Mathematics
  • Biological and Marine Sciences
  • Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences
Health
Admin: Maurice Bottomley research.ethics@plymouth.ac.uk
Staff and PhD ethics applications for research in the following schools:
  • Biomedical Sciences
  • Health Professions
  • Nursing and Midwifery
  • Peninsula Dental School
  • Peninsula Medical School
  • Psychology
Co-Chairs: Dr Daniela Oehring , Dr Giorgio Ganis and Dr Deanna Gallichan
Taught Masters student subcommittee (including Health and Social Work)
School of Health Professions undergraduate committee

Ethics Online System

The Plymouth Ethics Online System (PEOS) is a flexible web-based management system to help facilitate and streamline the ethical review process. This online ethical review application system is available to members of staff, postgraduate taught and research (PGT/PGR) students (School of Health Professions undergraduate from September 2021) at the University of Plymouth. The system allows applicants to submit and track their applications, as well as make it easier for the Faculty Research Ethics and Integrity Committees to conduct reviews, provide feedback and approve applications. To access the system, please use the following links and log in with your University of Plymouth username and password (the same information you use to access your email):
Reviewing an ethics application (Faculty Research Ethics and Integrity Committee personnel only)
MSc Network Systems Engineering

Research concordats

The University of Plymouth adheres to a number external concordats to ensure an environment of excellence for research and researchers