Research Ethics

All SETU Waterford researchers, students and staff, have a personal responsibility for meeting the ethical requirements in the conduct of their research. All researchers should, in the first instance, refer to Chapter 11 of the PG Regulations, seek advice from the supervisor and obtain approval from the relevant authority, the SETU research ethics committee (REC) or school prior to commencing any research activities, where applicable.  

Further information is contained in the SETU Ethical Approval Application Form. 

Research in any of the following areas will require authorisation from the relevant ethics committee or authority: 

1. Research that involves a direct physical intervention with a person or animal; 
2. Research that involves the collection of tissue samples; 
3. Research that involves contact with vulnerable groups - eg. Children; people from marginalised groups; ethnic groups etc. 
4. Research that involves people's personal information, rights or freedoms (this includes internet-based research); 
5. Research that involves students in SETU Waterford as the subject; 
6. Research where there is a potential that subjects may feel under pressure to participate; 
7. Research that may involve a risk to the researcher; 
8. Research which may lead to the disclosure of acts on the part of subjects, either consciously or unconsciously, that are professionally or morally disapproved of or are against the law; 
9. Research that involves potential stress or loss to subjects (psychological, physical, economic, reputational) beyond those of everyday life if the subjects had not participated in the study; 
10. Research involving direct observations of people's activities (either open or covert observation). 

Each researcher should also note that Garda Vetting clearance may also be required in cases where the research programme will involve placement in health or social care settings.

Researchers and postgraduate research students must complete the SETU Ethical Approval Application Form and submit it along with all other relevant documentation to [email protected]. Please see the SETU Research Ethics Committee Operations and Guidance document for guidance on how to complete an application. 

Please see the Data Protection Policy which all staff and students should read prior to appearing before the Ethics Committee. Staff and students working with data should follow the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) The GDPR is an important component of EU privacy law and human rights law, in particular Article 8 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. Considering GDPR in your research helps to assure research participants that the organisation is credible and using their personal data for the public good.  

Additionally, if your research project is health-related, you should also read the Data Protection Guidelines on Research in the Health Sector. 

Please contact [email protected] for further details.