Cultural Studies Masters: Ethics for human research
If your research project involves interviewing people, gathering personal information or accessing archival information about identifiable individuals, or researching in illegal activities, then you must apply for Human Ethics Committee approval before you begin work.
If you are in any doubt about whether your project needs Ethics Clearance, consult:
- your supervisor
- the University's Ethics website
- the Secretary of the School's Human Ethics Advisory Group (HEAG)
- the University's central Research Office.
The University of Melbourne is committed to the highest standard of integrity in research. The University of Melbourne Code of Conduct for Research sets out the obligations on all University researchers, to be aware of the ethical framework governing research at the University and to comply with institutional and regulatory requirements.
Human Ethics Advisory Group (HEAG)
All research involving human subjects by students and staff in the School of Culture and Communication should conform to the Melbourne Research Office Human Ethics protocols that support ethical research. In some cases, before any such research is undertaken proposals should be submitted to the HEAG for consideration, feedback and, if appropriate, approval.
Research involving humans that may require ethics approval include:
- gathering information about human beings (and organisations) through interviewing surveying, questionnaires, observation of human behaviour, audio/video taping
- using archived data in which individuals are identifiable
- studying or researching in illegal activities
Ethics approval may also be required where, as part of assessment requirements in a particular subject, students are asked to undertake research involving human subjects.
HEAG Committee
- Jennifer Rutherford (Chair) (English)
- Susan Lowish (Art History)
- Wendy Haslem (Screen Studies)
- Sean Cubitt (Media and Communications)
- Rowan Wilken (Cultural Studies)
- Barbara Bolt (Creative Arts)
- Elizabeth Kertesz (Secretary)
Applications and Procedures
All Human Ethics applications are to be submitted electronically via Themis and, specifically, the Human Ethics Workbench. Hard copies of these applications, appropriately signed, are also required. All University of Melbourne researchers, including Research Higher Degree students, have ready access to Themis.
Please see the Melbourne Research Office - Human Ethics for full details on application submission.
Example of an application [Word file]
Research must not commence until ethics clearance has been obtained.
2007/2008 School and University deadlines and meeting dates
School Deadline | School Meeting | University Deadline | University Meeting |
---|---|---|---|
22 January 2008 |
5 February 2008 |
26 February 2008 |
13 March 2008 |
4 March 2008 |
18 March 2008 |
1 April 2008 |
17 April 2008 |
25 March 2008 |
8 April 2008 |
21 April 2008 |
8 May 2008 |
22 April 2008* |
13 May 2008 |
26 May 2008 |
12 June 2008 |
20 May 2008 |
3 June 2008** |
29 July 2008 |
14 August 2008 |
29 July 2008 |
12 August 2008 |
26 August 2008 |
11 September 2008 |
26 August 2008 |
9 September 2008 |
23 September 2008 |
9 October 2008 |
30 September 2008 |
14 October 2008 |
28 October 2008 |
13 November 2008 |
21 October 2008 |
4 November 2008 |
18 November 2008 |
4 December 2008 |
* Late applications will not be accepted, as Themis will be shut down from 12.00pm Wednesday, 23 April, until 8.00am Tuesday, 29 April.
**early date due to mid-semester non-teaching period
Variation to project
If subsequent variations or modifications to the project are required once approval has been granted, a Human Ethics: Request for Amendment must be submitted for approval. If HEAG considers that the proposed changes are significant, researchers may be required to submit a new application for approval of the revised project.
Annual reports
The Human Research Ethics Committee requires all researchers to submit an annual report on each of their projects in March of the following year, or at the conclusion of the project if it continues for less than a year. Requests for annual reports are sent out by the Human Research Ethics Office in February/March each year. Failure to submit an annual report at the end of each year will mean approval for the project will lapse and a new application will need to be submitted.