SRA Ethics Appraisal Service


Summary


This is a new service, available from June 2022:

  • The service is designed for organisations and individuals who wish to have an independent ethical review of their research proposals, and can't access this another way
  • A small team of knowledgeable researchers (many are volunteers on the SRA Ethics Forum), working with the SRA, will assess your research proposal and comment on ethical issues, offering guidance
  • This is not a REC (Research Ethics Committee) and it doesn’t formally ‘approve’ research proposals. But it can offer a ‘favourable opinion’ or make suggestions for improvement
  • The appraisers are paid, so there is a charge to use the service.

Aims


  • To enhance the ethical awareness and conduct of the clients concerning the research and its potential consequences
  • To advise on measures to protect all stakeholders (e.g. individuals participating in and associated with a research project, and researchers themselves) from undue risk of harm or violation of their rights
  • To increase awareness of the potential benefits and risks of research

The service is provided by:


1. A standing core group, consisting of:

- A Co-ordinator/assessor
- The Chief exec of the SRA (or another staff member)
- As required, the ethics representative from the trustee board, and the convenor of the ethics forum

2. The appraisal team, who are invited by the core group to form temporary revew committees on an ad-hoc basis, to review applications. Committees consist of a Chair and usually two members. It may include members of the core group.


Scope


  • This service is not a REC (Research Ethics Committee) and does not ‘approve’ research - it offers expert advice and consultancy on a key aspect of research practice. Clients are welcome to cite their use of this service, but must not misrepresent it as a REC, or as having given approval.

  • Research integrity is not the core focus of the service, i.e. the need to adhere to professional standards, which are concerned with the individual behaviour and practice of researchers. But this may be addressed, at the discretion of the committee. (Advice on research integrity matters can be found at the UK Research Integrity Office)

  • It does not advise on the appropriateness of research methods or approaches, except where this could impact on research ethics.

  • It does not assess medical, clinical academic or other research projects where an organisational ethics committee exists to which the applicant can apply.

How it works


  • The client completes an application form detailing the research project (see below)
  • The SRA will first ask the reviewing team for their availability within the timeline
  • The SRA Assessor will determine if the ‘standard’ or ‘enhanced’ fee applies (see next section)
  • If the client accepts the fee, the appraisal begins
  • The SRA will provide the client with short biographies of the team
  • The SRA will invoice the client on completion

Fees


Clients using the service are charge at one of two rates, based on an assessment of the information in their application form. The key issue in determining price is the level of complexity of the work:

  1. Standard complexity: £800
  2. Enhanced complexity: £1100

VAT does not apply. Once the client accepts the fee, they should arrange for a Purchase Order number to be generated by their finance team, so that the SRA can prepare the invoice for the work.

How to apply


Please use this form and send it to [email protected] with ‘Ethics appraisal request’ in the subject header.


General


Conflicts of interest: People invited to be part of a committee must declare conflicts of interest and/or vested interests (personal, professional, financial). The core group will decide if their participation can be approved.

Follow-ups: A request for a further appraisal of the same case at a later date, for example after plans have been changed, will be treated as a resubmission, with a further fee.

Confidentiality: The core group and the committee will keep the document and project information confidential, and any ad hoc experts consulted will be told to maintain confidentiality.