Section 3: Ethics Protocol Proforma
Please keep your responses as brief as possible while providing enough information for
members of the Ethics Committee to gain a good understanding of what your research will
involve. The Policy for Conducting Ethical Research provides guidelines about what the
committee requires. Remember that members of the Ethics Committee might not have the
same background in your area of study that you have. Your responses should be written in
plain English for a non-expert audience.
The suggested length of responses is a guide only. Simple, uncontentious research might be
adequately explained more briefly. Research projects with a number of component parts or
which involve possible risks to the research participants will require more detailed
explanation. Some questions might not be relevant to your study, for any that are not
simply write N/A.
1 RESEARCH AIMS
1.1 State the aims of your research
(50-100 words)
1.2 Explain the need for, and value of, your research.
Place the aims in the context of existing research or practice.
Include a list of not more than 10 key references at appendix 1.
(100-300 words)
2 RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES
2.1 List your research questions or hypotheses.
(50-100 words)
Your protocol should clearly identify the questions which you want your research to answer.
Depending on your methodology, these questions may be refined as your study progresses.
2.2 Outline your research design and methodology.
(250-300 words)
The ethics committee must be convinced that your research methods can be expected to
produce valid results. Include a copy of your research tools as appendix 2.
2.3 Indicate whether your research is the first stage of a larger project. (50-100 words)
If it is, briefly explain your intentions for the development of your study to facilitate further
ethics approval if you do extend your research project.
3 RESEARCH PARTICIPANTS
3.1 Who will be approached or recruited to be research participants? How many
participants will be involved in your study?
(50-100 words)
3.2 List the selection and, if appropriate to your study, the exclusion criteria for
participants.
(50-100 words)
3.3 How will you recruit participants for your research?
(200-300 words)
If you will use advertisements, flyers or other recruitment material please provide a copy of
these materials in appendix 3.
3.4 How will you provide detailed information about your study to potential participants?
(50-100 words)
Include as appendix 4 the information sheet/s that you will use.