Research Ethics System and Code

1) Research Ethics Committee at the Faculty Level (Low-Risk Research)

Description and Definition:
The Research Ethics Committee at the Faculty Level typically addresses low-risk research ethics applications submitted by postgraduate students and academic/faculty staff. A Low-Risk Research Ethics Committee (LRREC) is responsible for receiving and reviewing research projects that pose minimal risk to participants, researchers, or the wider community. Such projects do not involve sensitive topics, invasive procedures, or vulnerable populations, including but not limited to: children, the elderly, patients, prisoners, individuals with disabilities, low-income individuals, undocumented immigrants and refugees, pregnant women, individuals with mental health conditions, illiterate persons, and socioeconomically disadvantaged groups. As we know, trauma, mental health symptoms, or sensitive emotional topics can occur in ANY population, including non-vulnerable groups. Considering that most of our (clinical psychology) studies will be conducted among students, many students who may experience mental health issues (e.g., depression, anxiety, and childhood trauma) would fall into the vulnerable group, so I suggest turning most psychology studies automatically into high-risk. Only if no mental health variables are assessed.

The purpose of the LRREC is to ensure that all low-risk research adheres to fundamental ethical standards, including informed consent, confidentiality, and appropriate strategies for minimizing potential risks.

A research project is classified as low-risk when the only foreseeable risk to participants is no greater than the discomfort or inconvenience typically encountered in daily life. In other words, the risk involved should not exceed that of everyday experiences (e.g., surveys on non-sensitive topics, routine educational studies employing standard pedagogical methods, and interviews concerning non-sensitive issues).

There must be a checklist to help the committee to determine whether a case is a low-risk or high-risk research.

Membership:
The LRREC should comprise a minimum of five members, with the maximum number to be determined by the university. One member must be appointed as the chairperson.

Roles and Responsibilities:
The LRREC is primarily tasked with the following roles and responsibilities to function effectively as a research ethics committee:

• Receive and review minimal-risk research proposals.
• Ensure that all required documentation is submitted, including written informed consent forms, research instruments, and participant information, where applicable.
• Provide feedback and/or request revisions if ethical standards are not adequately addressed or met.
• Approve, conditionally approve, or reject proposals.
• Refer applications to the High-Risk Committee if they involve significant ethical concerns or vulnerable populations.
• Maintain comprehensive records of ethics applications, decisions rendered, and related correspondence.
• Continuously invite new members to join the committee as needed.
• Train new committee members and reviewers.
• Offer training and guidance to postgraduate students (MA and PhD) on conducting ethically sound research, preparing research ethics applications, and ensuring participant safety.

2) Research Ethics Committee at the Deanship of Research and Development Centers and Koya University Level (High-Risk Research)

Description and Definition:
The Research Ethics Committee at the Deanship of Research and Development Centers (Koya University) Level is primarily responsible for handling high-risk research ethics applications submitted by postgraduate students and the university’s academic staff. A High-Risk Research Ethics Committee (HRREC) is tasked with receiving and reviewing research projects that involve significant risk to participants, researchers, or the wider community. These projects often encompass sensitive topics, intrusive procedures, or involve vulnerable populations such as children, the elderly, patients, prisoners, individuals with disabilities, low-income individuals, undocumented immigrants and refugees, pregnant women, individuals with mental health conditions, illiterate persons, and socioeconomically disadvantaged groups. High-risk research may also include clinical trials and international studies involving cross-cultural sensitivities.

The purpose of the HRREC is to ensure that high-risk research complies with ethical standards, including informed consent, confidentiality, and appropriate risk mitigation strategies. The HRREC plays a critical role in safeguarding both participants and researchers, and ensures compliance with university, national, and international ethical standards.

A research project is considered high-risk when the potential harm exceeds what is typically encountered in daily life. This harm may be physical, psychological, social, legal, or economic in nature. In other words, the risk is greater than what participants and/or researchers might reasonably expect in everyday circumstances. Examples include research on highly traumatic experiences such as bullying, abuse, or PTSD; experimental procedures intended to induce stress, fear, or emotional distress; We can say (Research that uses clinical samples (e.g., PTSD, dissociation, depression, suicidality, and any research where participants may disclose harm, abuse, or risk) or (high-risk psychological research includes any study involving trauma history, mental-health assessments, intrusive questioning, emotional activation, or potential triggering content) deception studies that result in manipulation or harm; research involving children without adequate safeguards; and studies involving individuals unable to provide informed consent independently.

Membership:
The HRREC shall consist of a minimum of five members, with the maximum number to be determined by the university. A chairperson must be appointed. It is also recommended that the committee include members with specialized expertise—legal experts, At least one member must hold advanced training in clinical psychology, psychiatry, counseling, or trauma studies, for example.

Roles and Responsibilities:
The HRREC holds the following main roles and key duties essential for the effective operation of a research ethics committee:

Main Roles:

• Protect participants’ rights and welfare by ensuring that their rights, dignity, and well-being are prioritized and safeguarded.
• Assess the scientific validity of the research proposal: Is the research worth the risk?

Key Duties:

• Receive and review high-risk research proposals.
• Ensure that the ethics application includes all required documentation, such as written informed consent forms, research instruments, and participant information, where applicable.
• Provide feedback and/or request revisions when ethical standards are not clearly articulated or adequately met.
• Approve, conditionally approve, or reject proposals that pose significant ethical concerns or risk harm to participants or researchers (withdraw approval if risks become unacceptable).
• Meet with researchers to discuss proposals involving high ethical risk and offer support in modifying their research to meet ethical requirements.
• Maintain comprehensive records of ethics applications, decisions rendered, and related correspondence.
• Continuously invite new members to join the committee.
• Provide training for new committee members and/or reviewers.

Offer training and guidance to postgraduate students (both MA and PhD) on conducting ethically sound research, preparing ethics applications, and ensuring participant safety.