This application form should be completed for any research involving a lab experiment at BLUE that uses non-standard subjects.

Ethical approval is required because it involves human participants. ‘Human participants’ are defined as including living human beings, and human data and records (such as, but not restricted to medical, genetic, financial, personnel, criminal or administrative records and test results including scholastic achievements). Research should not commence until written approval has been received (from School Research Director). This should be borne in mind when setting a start date for the project.

Applications should be made on this form, and submitted electronically, to the School Research Administrator and BLUE Administrator. A signed copy of the form should also be submitted. Applications will be assessed by the Research Director in the first instance, and may then passed to the Ethics Sub-Committee at the School of Economics. Any necessary supporting documentation (e.g. consent form, recruiting materials, etc) should also be attached to this form.

1. / Title of project:

2.This Project is:Staff Research Project Student Project

3. / Principal Investigator(s) (students should also include the name of their supervisor):
Name: / School:

4. Proposed start date:

5. Will this project be externally funded?

Yes No

6. Description of the project (abstract, max 300 words)

  1. Description of the experimental protocol

a)Sample (number and type of participants) – Indicate whether you require participants from the BLUE subject pool.

b)Recruitment procedures

c)Treatments (Explain what experimental variation – if any – you will introduce)

d)Analysis and outcome variables

[Please describe briefly how the analysis will be conducted and which outcome variables will be compared across treatment and controls]

e)Informed Consent

How will consent be obtained and recorded? If consent is not possible, explain why.

Will the research involve individuals below the age of 18 or individuals of 18 years and over with a limited capacity to give informed consent?

Yes No

If Yes, describe how consent will be obtained (e.g. parental or care taker consent)

Will the researchers be directly in contact with individuals below the age of 18 or with individuals with a limited capacity to give informed consent? If yes, a criminal records disclosure (CRB check) within the last three years is required.

Please provide details of the “clear disclosure”:

Date of disclosure:
Type of disclosure:
Organisation that requested disclosure:

Please attach a participant information sheet where appropriate.

  1. Confidentiality / Anonymity

If the research generates personal data, describe the arrangements for maintaining anonymity and confidentiality or the reasons for not doing so.

9.Data Access, Storage and Security

Describe the arrangements for storing and maintaining the security of any personal data collected as part of the project. Please provide details of those who will have access to the data.

It is a requirement of the Data Protection Act 1998 to ensure individuals are aware of how information about them will be managed. Please tick the box to confirm that participants will be informed of the data access, storage and security arrangements described above. If relevant, it is appropriate for this to be done via the participant information sheet

Further guidance about the collection of personal data for research purposes and compliance with the Data Protection Act can be accessed at the following weblink. Please tick the box to confirm that you have read this guidance (

10. Risk and Risk Management

Are there any potential risks (e.g. physical, psychological, social, legal or economic) to participants or subjects associated with the proposed research?

Yes No

If Yes,

Please provide full details and explain what risk management procedures will be put in place to minimise the risks:

Are there any potential risks to researchers as a consequence of undertaking this proposal that are greater than those encountered in normal day-to-day life?

Yes No

If Yes,

Please provide full details and explain what risk management procedures will be put in place to minimise the risks:

11. Any other issues

Are there any other ethical issues that have not been addressed which you would wish to bring to the attention to the Ethics Sub-Committee at the School of Economics.

RESEARCHER’S DECLARATION

I confirm that the experiment will be conducted in agreement with the ethical guidelines of the School of Economics and BLUE:

 Yes  No

Please enclose the written instructions (for our own records)

Lab identification number (for our purposes only): ______

Signed ………………………………………….. Date ……………………………………………

Student Projects (only):

Signed (PhD Supervisor)………………………….. Date …………….……………………………

APPROVAL -to be completed the Ethics Sub-Committee of the School of Economics.

Approval: Yes/ NO
If not, reasons: ………………………………………..
If yes, any comments/recommendations: ………………………………..
Ethics Sub-Committee meeting: ………………………………..
Signed………………………….. Date ……………………………………
Signed………………………….. Date ……………………………………
Signed………………………….. Date ……………………………………
Signed………………………….. Date ……………………………………