Ethics Form for Dissertation | A Guide with Examples

Understanding the Purpose of an Ethics Form

An ethics form represents a document that outlines how research will be conducted ethically. In general, it contains details on how consent from participants will be acquired, their confidentiality protected, sensitive information handled, and the associated risks from the research minimised. The ethics form is sent for approval to the ethics committee or the review board of the institution before starting the research.

Why Ethics Are Important? 

Ethics form is crucial and fundamental for a dissertation. Here is the importance of the ethics form;

• Protecting Participants: Ensures that participants are treated fairly, respectfully, and without harm.
• Maintaining Integrity: Helps prevent research misconduct, such as data fabrication or plagiarism.
• Legal Adherence: Guarantees that your research aligns with both legal regulations and institutional standards.
• Enhancing Credibility: Ethical research is more likely to be trusted and respected by the academic community.

Dissertation Ethics Form Example | Key Components

An ethics form will typically have several key sections, each relating to different aspects of the ethical issues relevant to your work. The following are several common sections found in many ethics forms before conducting interviews for dissertation, with some examples of what might be included.

Research Overview

This section provides a brief overview of your research project, including its objectives, methodology, and the significance of the study.

Example: "My research tries to discuss the implications of remote working among IT employees for their productivity at work. The research is based on the qualitative approach with data gathered from interviews among 20 employees working for different technology companies. It will, therefore, be an exploration of how remote working shapes daily routines regarding work, communication, and job satisfaction."

Participant Information

In this section, you describe who your participants are, how you will recruit them, and any specific inclusion/exclusion criteria.

Example: "The participants will be employees of technology companies engaged in remote work for six months or more. The recruitment of participants will be through LinkedIn and personal contacts within companies. The inclusion criteria of this study will involve full-time employment and experience in remote work. The exclusion criteria will be employees who recently returned to office-based work.

Informed Consent

Informed consent is an important ethical duty. This section outlines how participant consent will be solicited and what will be communicated to study participants concerning the research.

Example: “Participants would be provided with an information sheet containing the purpose of the research, what their involvement would entail, risks, if any, and their rights, including the right to withdraw from the research project during the same. Consent in writing would be obtained before data collection commences.”

Confidentiality and Anonymity

Confidentiality relates to the protection of the identity and personal information of the participants. This part should clarify the steps that will be put into place to ensure confidentiality and whether anonymity will be maintained.

Example: "All participants will be given a pseudonym to ensure their identity is not revealed. Data is stored on a password-protected computer, and access to raw data will only be with the researcher. All reports and publications will be scrubbed of identifying information."

Data Protection

Data protection concerns the methods of handling and storing the data collected to ensure safety and proper use.

Example: "Data will be encrypted and stored on a secure server. All electronic data will be password-protected, while physical documents will be kept locked in a secure cabinet. Data will be retained for five years beyond the completion of the study and then securely destroyed."

Risk Assessment

This section identifies any potential risks to participants and how you will mitigate them. Risks can include emotional distress, privacy concerns, or any physical harm (though rare in most social research).

Example: "Participants might feel uneasy when talking about their experiences of working. To minimise this, interviews will be carried out in a comfortable, neutral environment, and participants can skip any questions they do not want to answer. The sources of support should be provided in case of any distress."

Ethical Issues Relating to Your Research

Depending on the nature of the research, certain studies may require further ethical considerations regarding the inclusion of vulnerable populations or sensitive data.

Example: "Since the study involves discussing workplace experiences, there will be great concern to avoid questions that could put participants into negative repercussions in their jobs. This study does not involve vulnerable groups and no deception in the research occurs.

Debriefing

Debriefing refers to informing participants about the study's findings and purpose after their participation, especially if any elements were not fully disclosed upfront (as in cases involving mild deception).

Example: "Participants will be provided with a summary of the research findings at the end of the study. An opportunity to ask questions and give feedback about the study process will also be provided."

Ethical Approval and Compliance

Finally, it is always important to state that your work meets the relevant ethical requirements and that you will seek approval from the appropriate ethics committee.

Example: This research will be performed according to ethical principles that have been set by [University Name]. In advance of conducting any data collection, approval will be obtained from the [University Name] Ethics Committee.

Submitting Your Ethics Form for Dissertation

Once you’ve completed your ethics form, submit it to your institution’s ethics committee or review board for approval. The committee will review your form to ensure that your research plan adheres to ethical standards and that participants are adequately protected.

Tips for Submission

Here are a few tips for submitting your ethics form;

• Completeness: Ensure that all explanations are complete in each section of the form. Your degree of completeness will directly impact the effectiveness of the approval process.
• Seek Feedback: Consider getting feedback from your supervisor or colleagues before submission to ensure that your form is complete and clear.
• Allow Time: Ethical review can take time, so submit your form well in advance of your planned research start date.