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Ethics
Human Ethics
Information for applicants

If your project has significant ethical impact, apply to the UNSW Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC).
If it has minimal ethical impact, apply to the Human Research Ethics Advisory (HREA) panel.

Minimal Ethical Impact
In general, research without a significant risk of harm, which does not include vulnerable subject groups, or involve sensitive topics, may be considered as minimal ethical impact. Examples are listed below:

Examples of "minimal ethical impact" research	Comment
Studies which do not involve an intervention that could result in significant harm to participants	Potential harms may include physical (e.g. insertion of needles), psychological (e.g. emotional distress), and social effects (e.g. cultural sensitivities). If any of these possibilities are likely the application should be made to the HREC.
Studies which do not involve subjects who are vulnerable	Studies involving subjects who have a reduced capacity for fully informed consent (e.g. children), those in dependent relationships (e.g. students), and those with diminished autonomy (e.g. prisoners) should generally be referred to the HREC.
Social science questionnaires on non-controversial, non-personal issues	Examples of suitable projects for application to the HREA panels are marketing research questionnaires and general surveys that only require basic demographic data. In all instances, respondents would not be identified.
Observational studies in public situations which focus on non-sensitive areas	Studies of public behaviour (e.g. use of street furniture, behavioural reactions to art installations, shoppers' behaviour, etc.) may be considered minimal ethical impact. If these observations were to be video-recorded or photographed, HREC approval may be needed.
Studies of existing de-identified data, documents, records, pathological or diagnostic specimens	Studies based on historical archives and records, museum specimens, cultural/ historical data placed in public trust and internet sites would generally be considered as minimal ethical impact.
Collection of certain biological specimens, including hair, nail clippings or saliva	An example of a minimal impact study might be collection of de-identified hair sweepings from a hairdresser's floor for purposes of determining lead levels in the community. By contrast, a study which involves collection of prisoners' hair for the purpose of determining DNA characteristics should be referred to the HREC.

All externally funded projects (e.g. ARC, NHMRC) with minimal ethical impact can be considered and approved by Panels. Approval must then be ratified by the Human Research Ethics Committee before research funds will be released.

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