Research ethics and integrity
Ethical self-review and ethical approval
How the process works, key contacts and committees.
All staff and researchers are individually responsible for ensuring that their research complies with Research Ethics and Integrity Policy and is conducted according to appropriate ethical, legal and professional frameworks.
Staff and researchers must make sure that they complete ethical self-review for all research. The Research Ethics Self-Review Form below must be completed by the Principal Investigator, Student Researcher, or Visiting Fellow before commencing any research activity.
Research Ethics Self Assessment Form (docx, 47.6 kB)
Research Ethics and Integrity Policy (docx, 52.6 kB)
Guidance on Research Ethics and Integrity Policy (docx, 43.2 kB)
The following research must be subject to ethical review and have received written approval, before the research commences:
- Research involving human participants
- Research involving human tissue (e.g., material such as blood) or data relating to humans
- Research involving the personal data of a living human participant
- Research with the potential for adverse environmental impacts
- Research involving animals
If conducting any of the research outlined above, then ethical self-review is not required. Please proceed straight to submitting your application via the Ethics Monitor System for ethical review.
Please log in using your usual York St John University credentials. Using Incognito mode (Google Chrome), or InPrivate Window mode in Microsoft Edge is recommended. The monitor is only available to PhD (level 8) researchers, Masters by Research (Level 7) students and academic staff. Professional staff should contact the Research Office to request access. Guidance on completing each question is embedded in the software.
If you have a question about the system, please contact ResearchOffice@yorksj.ac.uk.
If you have any questions regarding your research, please contact your supervisor, or School Research Ethics Committee Chair.
School Research Ethics Committee (SREC) contacts
| School | Chair | Start date | Expiry date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arts | Dr Tilo Reifenstein | t.reifenstein@yorksj.ac.uk | 1 February 2023 | 31 January 2027 |
| Humanities | Dr Alice Brumby | a.brumby@yorksj.ac.uk | 1 September 2025 | 31 August 2028 |
| Education, Language and Psychology | Dr Charlotte Haines-Lyon | c.haineslyon@yorksj.ac.uk | 1 January 2023 | 31 December 2026 |
| York Business School | Dr Steven Hirschler | s.hirschler@yorksj.ac.uk | 1 August 2023 | 31 December 2026 |
| Science, Technology and Health | Dr Sophie Carter | s.carter@yorksj.ac.uk | 1 May 2021 | 31 March 2026 |
Review
Some projects will require SREC review and approval. UREISC will review projects where higher risk has been identified by the SREC.
Applications may be approved, conditionally approved (revisions required), further information may be requested, or rejected with reasons.
Outcome and records
Where ethical approval for a research project is required, as per the Research Ethics and Integrity Policy, written approval must be received before any data collection, recruitment, or pilot work commences.
Researchers must retain approvals and key documents in line with the University Record Retention Schedule.
Amendments
Major amendments require prior approval via the Ethics Monitor System, if they received approval via this process. Please use the ‘Major amendment’ function in the system to submit your amendment/s for approval.
Minor amendments must be documented by the researcher and made available on request.
Timeframes
Standard processing time: up to 8 weeks for end-to-end review across school-level and university-level committees. The university-level stage takes a minimum of 3 weeks.
Where applications are returned for additional information, overall timeframes may exceed the standard.
University Research Ethics and Integrity Sub-committee (UREISC)
If the School Committee is unable to make a decision, the School Research Ethics Committee (SREC) will escalate to the University Research Ethics and Integrity Sub-committee (UREISC). The committee includes:
- Pro Vice Chancellor - Research and Knowledge Transfer
- Head of the Research Office
- Head of Library and Learning Services
- Ethics Lead from each school
- Information and Governance
- Research Officer: Compliance and Research Ethics
It also comments on ethical risks relating to internal projects, which are not deemed to be research. Examples include:
- The collection and storage of personal data on behalf of the University
- Equality and diversity
Complaints and appeals
Participants' complaints
Complaints from research participants should be handled according to the Research Misconduct Policy and Procedure on the Policies and guidance page.
The participant information sheet and consent form must include the prescribed wording and an independent point of contact (see the Resources and downloads webpage for templates and the list of independent chairs).
Researcher concerns and appeals
In the first instance, where a researcher disagrees with an SREC outcome, they may request cross-referral to another SREC with an appropriate disciplinary link by contacting the Research Officer: Compliance.
If unresolved, or if the issue is with the ethics process itself:
- Student matters may proceed under the Student Complaints Policy and Procedure (via Casework)
- Postgraduate researchers may proceed under the Research Misconduct Policy and Procedures - Research Students (PDF, 0.2 MB)
- Staff matters may also proceed under the Disciplinary Policy and Procedure (via Human Resources & Organisational Development)
