Research Ethics

Research ethics goes beyond avoiding plagiarism or other forms of dishonesty. In Australia, anyone undertaking research with human subjects is obliged to ensure that the ethical dimension of the research lies within acceptable bounds.

The same standards that govern the ethics of medical or other scientific research apply for studies in the Humanities, including Theology and Ministry too. Even a project involving the filling out of a questionnaire, for instance, or interviews with people, must explicitly avoid any kind of harm to the individuals concerned, as well as being worthwhile in itself.  The National Health and Medical Research Council together with the Australian Research Council set out the relevant standards in the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research.

SCD ensures that all SCD research involving human subjects is submitted to a careful approval process by its Research Ethics Committee. Its membership and processes are aligned with the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research.

If you are a member of the SCD faculty, or an SCD student, and you are undertaking a research project or research essay involving human subjects, you need to apply to the Research Ethics Committee for approval. If you are a student, your supervisor or teacher will help guide you through this process.

Here a re the key documents that you will need:

• Ethical Review of Research Guidelines
• Clearance Application
• Sample Participant Information Sheet
• Coursework Ethics Clearance Policy