Research ethics guidance
Links to helpful resources
Research and ethics guidance and forms during COVID-19
Within PPLS, all new ethics applications for face-to-face research need to be accompanied by a completed checklist, to support researchers in adhering to best practice when conducting face-to-face data collection on or off campus. Furthermore, participant information sheets and consent forms need to include the text that is provided on page 2 of the checklist.
The checklist can be downloaded from the link below and an explanation of the broader context can be found on the ERO sharepoint page:
Due to the ongoing reorganisation of research facilities in PPLS, it is essential that any new on-campus research study should contact PPLS.studies@ed.ac.uk to confirm that a suitable research room is available, prior to submitting the ethics application.
All off-campus research, whether conducted locally (in/around Edinburgh), within the UK or overseas requires travel and fieldwork risk assessments which can be found from the link below. These should be submitted to the school for approval by emailing the School Operations Team:
The PPLS-wide Ethics Submission Portal must now be used for new projects by staff and PhD students. MSc students should use the old LEL Ethics Submission Portal (2017 only, this will be deprecated after this year).
Ethics information and Submission Portal for Linguistics and English Language
If you are planning on carrying out a Knowledge Exchange and Impact (KEI) activity and you are unsure as to whether or not it requires ethical approval:
Ethical knowledge exchange and impact practices
Codes, Guidelines, Recommendations
British Psychological Societ
If you require a PDF document in an alternative format, such as large print or a coloured background, please email pplspgoffice@ed.ac.uk or contact the Postgraduate Office.
British Association for Applied Linguistics
Recommendations on Good Practice
American Psychological Association
Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct
American Anthropological Association
Code of Ethics (2009) (PDF)
College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
CAHSS Research Ethics Framework + Other Policies and Advice
Research using personal data
Information for researchers at the University carrying out projects involving personal data