Research
Useful resources
The following documents, some produced by Western Sydney, others by external organisations, may assist researchers to better understand the ethics review environment and the processes at Western Sydney University.
Guidance documents
- Guidance for researchers new to human ethics review (PDF, 50.45 KB) (opens in a new window)
- Choosing the most appropriate participant information sheet and consent form (PDF, 80.35 KB) (opens in a new window)
- Guidance on writing participant information sheets and consent forms (PDF, 42.38 KB) (opens in a new window)
- Guidance on receiving and responding to ethics committee assessor comments (PDF, 78.25 KB) (opens in a new window)
- Guidance on making an amendment to an approved project (PDF, 76.53 KB) (opens in a new window)
- Guidance on ethics applications, research projects and DFAT travel advice (PDF, 71.34 KB) (opens in a new window)
- Guidance on complaints (PDF, 58.62 KB) (opens in a new window)
- Guidance on human research ethics protocols for coursework Masters students (PDF, 70.33 KB) (opens in a new window)
- Guidance on completing the Project Description (PDF, 126.28 KB) (opens in a new window)
- Guidance on questions related to restrictions on publication of results (PDF, 70.66 KB) (opens in a new window)
- HREA FAQ (PDF, 62.72 KB) (opens in a new window)
- Guidance on research projects seeking to use Western Sydney staff as participants (PDF, 41.6 KB) (opens in a new window)
- Guidance on reimbursements (PDF, 89.74 KB) (opens in a new window)
- Guidance on the use of 'Opt Out' or passive consent in human research (PDF, 44.46 KB) (opens in a new window)
- Guidance on ethics review exemption (PDF, 99.74 KB) (opens in a new window)
- Guidance on research involving young people (PDF, 84.31 KB) (opens in a new window)
- Guidance on using focus groups in research (PDF, 53.57 KB) (opens in a new window)
- Guidance on research being done with or for organisations (PDF, 95.43 KB) (opens in a new window)
- Guidance on issues with informed consent (PDF, 120.55 KB) (opens in a new window)
- Guidance on creating a research project flyer ( PDF, 81.57 KB) (opens in a new window)
- Guidance on external ethics recognition (PDF, 75.86 KB) (opens in a new window)
- Guidance on questions related to cultural sensitivities (PDF, 79.5 KB) (opens in a new window)
- Guidance on levels of risk and the ethical review process (PDF, 139.92 KB) (opens in a new window)
- Guidance on data storage and retention questions (PDF, 79.42 KB) (opens in a new window)
- Guidance on human ethics quick FAQ PDF, 72.63 KB (opens in a new window)
- Guidance on teaching and learning activities involving human participants (PDF, 79.63 KB) (opens in a new window)
- Guidance on gender inclusive language for survey questions (PDF, 129.48 KB) (opens in a new window)
External resources
- Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Human Research Ethics Resource Manual (SoTL Manual) (opens in a new window)
Australasian Human Research Ethics Consultancy Services (AHRECS) - University of Wollongong Research Ethics Online Module (opens in a new window)
Explores the ethics of human research via a series of hypothetical research scenarios - Macquarie University Human Research Ethics for the Social Sciences (opens in a new window)
Open access module suitable for undergraduate students - Epigeum (opens in a new window)
Epigeum offers professional development courses for researchers. These courses equip independent academic, early-career and mid-career researchers with the skills needed for professional development in a higher education context. The courses provide comprehensive guidance on professional development from identifying individual development needs through to how best to communicate research results. The University is currently piloting this program. - Payment of participants in research: information for researchers, HRECs and other ethics review bodies (opens in a new window)
National Health and Medical Research Council, 2019 - OAIC Guide to Health Privacy (opens in a new window)
Office of the Australian Information Commissioner. A guide to help health service providers to understand the obligations under the Privacy Act 1988. Chapter 9 covers collecting, using and disclosing health information.
Sample size calculations
The HREA asks for information on how sample sizes were determined. Sample size calculation tools can be found here:
- Power and sample size calculators (opens in a new window) (quantitative)
HyLown Consulting - Links to JavaScript-based forms for simple power/sample size calculations (opens in a new window) (quantitative)
University of British Columbia - How many qualitative interviews is enough? (opens in a new window) (qualitative)
National Centre for Research Methods (UK)
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