Building Up A Research Ethics System 235- Minimal Risk: A research design requires a strong justification if
it involves more than minimal risks, physical or psychological, to
the researcher or participants. The assessment of risks involves
taking into consideration both the potential benefits and harm of
the research. The possible risks do not arise only during the
research process but also from the publication and dissemination
of the research findings. For example, participants may be upset
by how they are portrayed in publications or disturbed by
unwanted media attention (Crow and Wiles, 2008). Relevant
procedures should be put in place for managing the risks.
13.3.2 Institutional Regulation and Support
A committee overseeing ethics-related matters in research has been
formed in the university for regulating the research activities conducted
by academics. This Research Ethics Committee (REC) includes
representatives from academic units for processing ethical review
applications and ensuring the approved research studies are conducted
ethically. Specifically, the REC has to identify the potential ethical
issues in a research study before it commences.
Exemption from ethical approval may apply to anonymous surveys
when they are for the university’s internal use for improving teaching
and learning; and this also covers student projects for learning purposes.
For degree programmes, only research projects leading to the thesis of a
research degree and research publications are subject to ethical review
by the REC. Individual academic units have developed their own
mechanisms to ensure that ethical issues are handled properly for
student projects exempted from review by the committee.
Another area governed by the REC is research integrity, which
involves ensuring responsible research practices by academics,
following principles such as honesty, rigour, objectivity and openness,