Code of Good Research Practice

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Code of Good Research Practice

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To enhance your understanding of what it
means to be a responsible, trained and
professional research student you should
familiarise yourself with the relevant University
documents on Research Good Practice.
Overarching document University Code of
Research Good Practice.  Inter-related with
other documents including Ethics Code, and Code
of Practice for Research Degree Programmes   
You should also ensure you are familiar with
and conform to the training or best practice
guidance from the relevant  Professional Body
related to your area of research.

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Research Councils
Familiarise yourself with the relevant research
councils and their Codes of Best
Practice http//www.rcuk.ac.uk

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Selflessness Integrity, Objectivity,
Accountability Openness, Honesty, Leadership

The Universitys Code has adopted the seven
principles identified by the Nolan Committee on
Standards in Public Life
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Acquisition and Skills Development
research methods regulatory and ethics
approvals and consentsequipment use
confidentiality data management record
keepingpublication research team leadership
health and safety budget management and other
topics as appropriate

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Good Practice Expectations
Clarify ownership and use of Primary Data
Samples Equipment where sponsored/funded/facilita
ted by a third party. Research supported by the
University, Research Councils or Charities is
undertaken for public benefit and may not be
undertaken solely for the purposes of commercial
gain. However, commercial benefit from the
exploitation of the results of the research may
accrue to the researcher, the University and, by
agreement, to any charitable sponsor of the
research.

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Publication the University encourages
publication and dissemination however take
responsibility and be aware of consequences of
dissemination, such as the wider media. For
further information contact the Media Attaché for
Research kellyh_at_wmin.ac.uk Or the Marketing
Development Department http//www.wmin.ac.uk/page-
41

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Dissemination again ensure you have received
advice, if in doubt about a Press Release seek
advice from a Media Attaché. The status of
research make clear if not peer-reviewed.
Acknowledge all funding sources. Make your
University of Westminster affiliation explicit.
Acknowledge collaborators and supporters. The
University does not support the practice of
honorary authorship. If your name appears on a
disseminated piece make sure you know the content
fully. This is some of what makes you a
responsible disseminator of research.

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University Code of Practice Governing
Ethical Conduct of Investigations,
Demonstrations, Research and Experiments

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1. Social or Scientific Value2. Scientific
Validity3. Fair Subject Selection4. Favourable
risk-benefit ratio5. Independent
review6. Informed Consent7. Respect for
potential and enrolled subjects

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Guiding Principles of Ethics Code
Minimal risk to physical or psychological
well-being of participants (animal or
human)Greater care to be taken in gaining
consent where participant is deemed
vulnerableEvidence of obtained consent
required on application to Ethics Committee.Data
Protection legislation must be observed.All
work undertaken regardless of whether ethical
approval is required is subject to this Code of
Practice and where applicable should take into
consideration national Codes of Practice and/or
external guidelines applicable to the subject
area

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Selection, Screening Safeguarding of
Participants

• Safeguard participants health, psychological
  well-being and privacy
• Application should include full details of
  selection, and any questionnaires used in
  selection process
• Allow participants to consult doctor before
  agreeing to participate
• Halt investigation without delay if any serious
  event occurs affecting participant(s) or
  investigator(s)
• Changes can only be made (without Committee
  approval) if risk is likely to occur suddenly
• Any changes must usually require prior consent
  from Ethics Committee and research halted until
  new approval is gained.

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Understanding Informed Consent

• Definition a participant's consent given freely
  with proper understanding of the nature and
  purpose of participating, and given the full
  understanding of any potential risks and
  consequences.
• Full details of nature, object and duration
  together with what it will involve and any
  physical or psychological discomfort or
  inconvenience anticipated
• Participants Information Sheet (attached to
  Consent Form)
• Minors and vulnerable participants
• Legally, no adult in the UK can give consent on
  behalf of another adult

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Data Security and Confidentiality

• PI responsible for safeguarding participants
  confidentiality
• Recording of research should comply with DP Act
  1998
• Reasons behind holding computerised records of
  participants names or other identifiable data
  should be given at proposal stage
• Passwords to medical records/research data or
  named individuals only available to those with a
  genuine involvement, e.g. clinician or
  investigator involved in the research
• Research involving personal data transmitted
  across public communication lines requires Ethics
  Committee approval

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Research conducted abroad

• PI should try and obtain ethical approval abroad
  (in addition to that at the University)
• If no ethical body/Committee where research will
  be conducted, an independent body should convene
  with at least 2 independent persons, one chair
  and one member.
• The ethical acceptability of research must be in
  accordance with local customs, traditions and
  beliefs.
• Check if University Insurance will cover whilst
  abroad!

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University Research Ethics Committee
Chair John Colwell Secretary Huzma Kelly
(Senior Research Officer) Clerical Support
(Academic Registrars Dept)

http//www.wmin.ac.uk/page-14494
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University Ethics Committee
Chair Jeremy Colwill (SSHL) Secretary Carl
Hornsey (Assistant Registrar, Student
Information) Clerical Support (Academic
Registrars Dept) http//www.wmin.ac.uk/page-3
380
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Human Tissues Act

• http//www.hta.gov.uk/
• http//www.hta.gov.uk/about_hta/human_tissue_act.
  cfm
• University Contact Cavendish Campus Intranet
  will have a new page soon dedicated to HTA.
• Alternatively Contact Keith Redway, Campus
  Health and Safety Officer redwayk_at_wmin.ac.uk

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Ethics Research Degrees

• Ascertain ethical dimensions prior to completing
  Application to Register (Form R)
• Declare on Form R any ethical dimensions which
  exist or may exist in the course of your Research
  Degree
• Candidates and Supervisors bear individual
  responsibility
• Prior ethical approval where MREC/LREC approval
  exists for the research, declare on Form R
• Submit both forms to Academic Registrars they
  will be considered in parallel by Ethics
  Committee and Research Committee, Research
  Degrees section

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Ethics Research Degrees
All conditions of Ethics Committee to be met
before Research Degree Registration can be
approved by Research Committee Post-Registration
Any changes to research protocol which may
necessitate Ethics Approval where it was not
required or sought earlier must be declared to
the Ethics Committee, research must be
suspended. The Research Committee (Research
Degrees) will be informed by the Ethics Committee
of suspended work as well as informing of any
subsequent and new ethics approvals.

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WARNING
FAILURE TO INFORM ETHICS COMMITTEE OF ANY CHANGES
OR OF NEW APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS MAY RESULT IN
ETHICS COMMITTEE INTERVENING VIA RESEARCH
COMMITTEE HALTING RESEARCH UNTIL SUCH TIME AS
BOTH COMMITTEES ARE SATISFIED. BOTH COMMITTEES
RESERVE THE RIGHT TO HALT RESEARCH WHERE ETHICAL
MATTERS HAVE NOT BEEN SATISFIED IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE CODE OF ETHICS AT
ANY STAGE.

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references

• University of Westminster Ethics Code
• Research Degree Regulations 2006
• Code of Practice for Research Degree
  Programmes 2006
• University Code of Good Research Practice 2006
• Emanuel E.J, Wendler D, Grady C. (2000) What
  Makes Clinical Research Ethical? Journal of the
  American Medical Association, May 24-31, Vol.
  283, No. 20. (www.jama.com)