Does my project require a research governance & ethics review?
This tool helps you decide if a research governance and ethics review is needed for your new project. If a review is needed, the tool will show whether your project is low, medium, or high complexity and the associated review timescales. We may ask for more information to discuss your project to give a definitive answer. You can also request support for your project. Some questions may seem unlikely for Essex County Council research but are included due to legal and policy implications.
The review ensures Essex County Council staff follow local and national legal and policy guidelines and best practices during research and evaluation and support you in the development of your project in the most effective way.
Please only use this decision tool if:
- You have used the decision tool first: Is my project research or evaluation? or you are clear that what you plan to do is research or evaluation (including behavioural insights) i.e. activities where research methods are applied.
- Research or evaluation is being conducted by Essex County Council staff or also in collaboration with partners and you intend on using the Essex County Council research governance and ethics process. Note Greater Essex HDRC projects currently require university ethical review.
- You/Essex County Council is planning to commission out your project to an external agency and you wish to check the complexity level of the project and/or ask for support or advice.
- You have commissioned out your project to an external agency. You have checked that the commissioned provider is not signed up to MRS code of conduct or equivalent and, they do not have their own research governance and ethics process. You wish to use the Essex County Council research governance and ethics process.
- You are an organisation without your own research governance and ethics process and wish to use the Essex County Council process, by prior arrangement.
If you have obtained research ethics review from another organisation but require access to Essex County Council staff, services users, premises or equipment, please contact research@essex.gov.uk with your opinion/approval letter, application and materials (including Health & Safety risk assessment) who will provide a light touch review.