SCHOOL OF DIVINITY
ETHICS IN RESEARCH COMMITTEE
ETHICS (SELF) ASSESSMENT FORM: LEVEL ONE	

Level One Ethics (Self) assessment is normally to be carried out by the Principal Investigator.  For Honours and taught Masters students this is done by the dissertation supervisor on behalf of the programme manager.  For MTh/MSC by research and PhD students the assessment is carried out by the first supervisor.  For Post-doctoral Fellows this is done in collaboration with the mentor who is responsible for confirming that it has been carried out.

Title of Project:
Funding Body (if applicable):
Principal Invest./ Supervisor/ Prog. Manager name:  
Student name and matriculation Number:
Type of student:                              PhD                                 Masters by Research       
                                                         Taught Masters              Honours                             

Protection of research subject confidentiality
Are there any issues of confidentiality which are not adequately handled by the normal tenets of ethical academic research?
                                                                            NO                       YES    
If yes, Level Two Ethics review required
These include mutually understood agreements about:
•	Non attribution of individual responses
•	Individuals and organisations being anonymised in publications and presentations, if requested
•	Feedback to collaborators, rights to edit responses, and intellectual property rights and publication	

Data protection and Consent
Are issues of data handling and consent dealt with adequately and following procedures?
                                                                                NO                     YES    
If No, Level Two  Ethics review required
For example:
•	Will respondents consent be sought regarding the collection of personal data?
•	Are there special issues about informed consent or confidentiality in this case?
•	Is the research compliant with UOE procedures (www.recordsmanagment.ed.ac.uk)	

Moral Issues and Researcher/Institutional Conflicts of Interest
Do any special moral issues/conflicts of interest arise?
                                                                            NO                       YES    
If yes, Level Two Ethics review required
For example:
•	Might the researcher compromise the research objectivity or independence in return for financial or non-financial benefit for her/himself or for a relative or friend?
•	Are there particular moral issues or concerns that may arise, for example where the purposes of the research are concealed, where respondents are unable to provide informed consent or where research findings impinge negatively or differentially upon the interests of participants?
•	Does the research involve vulnerable persons such as children, institutionalised persons or others entitled to protection and special procedures to protect their interests?	

Potential physical or psychological harm, discomfort, or stress
Is there significant foreseeable potential for psychological harm or stress for those involved in your research?                                                                        YES                    NO
Is there significant foreseeable potential for physical harm or stress for those involved in your research?                                                                                 YES                    NO
Is there significant foreseeable risk to the researcher?           YES                    NO
If YES to any section, Level Two Ethics Review required	

OVERALL ASSESSMENT

SELF AUDIT HAS BEEN CONDUCTED?                                YES                    NO
Were any risks identified?                                                             YES                    NO
Is Level Two Ethics Assessment required?                                   YES                    NO

Signature of Applicant:                                                                          Date: 

Principal Investigator or Scrutineer (supervisor, programme manager, mentor) either:
1.	emails research office (K.McLean@ed.ac.uk) following text:  “ I confirm that I have carried out the School Level One Ethics (Self ) Assessment in relation to the proposed research project [insert project name, student name if applicable, and Funding Body if applicable]  and that no reasonably foreseeable ethical risks have been identified.”

OR

2.	Completes a Level Two Ethics Assessment form and submits it to the Ethics In Research Committee  via the research office (K.McLean@ed.ac.uk) for a decision.