Ethical Considerations

Anyone collecting any personal data as part of a research project should review the University's webpages on research ethics.  

The starting point is Research ethics (including CUREC) | Research Support (ox.ac.uk)

While some research obviously needs research ethics approval, such as work with vulnerable people or children, approval is also needed when interviewing elites or professionals since the researcher is still collecting personal information about interviewees.

The flow chart on the page below helps you determine whether or not you need ethics approval.  

Where and how to apply for ethical review | Research Support (ox.ac.uk)

How do you apply for ethical approval?

The Faculty of Law does not have its own ethics committee. Hence all staff and students in law must apply to the Social Sciences and Humanities Interdivisional Research Ethics Committee as explained on this page:

SSH IDREC and DREC application process | Research Support (ox.ac.uk)

Researchers are advised to allow 30 days after submitting the full set of papers to the CUREC administrators. For CUREC2 applications this is 60 days.

The Faculty's research admin team can advise on ethics application forms. The admin team will also arrange for the Faculty authorisation before the form is sent to the CUREC administrators.