Research Ethics
Graduate and Undergraduate courses which include student research projects with human participants must undergo an ethics review. If the research is considered medium or high risk for the participating subjects the review must be conducted by the University of Toronto Research Ethics Board (REB). If the research is low-risk the ethics review is conducted by the Sociology Department Delegated Ethics Review Committee (DERC). Course directors can determine the risk level of their students' projects by reviewing this page on the ethics website of the Vice-President Research & Innovation (VPRI). Information about how to submit an ethics protocol to the UofT REB is available here. Protocols must be submitted by Course Instructors.
For low-risk research with human participants, Course Instructors should complete and email the UTSG Sociology Department "Course Protocol Form" to the Sociology Research Coordinator, who will initiate the DERC review process. Other forms available through this same link include: the "Participant Consent Information Page"; the "Standard Department Participant Consent Form"; and the "Undergrad Independent Studies Protocol Form".
Ethics Protocols for graduate student Major Research Papers (MRP) and Research Practicums involving research with human participants must be submitted to the REB and not to the DERC, whether the research is low, medium or high risk. Faculty supervisors for the MRP's and Practicums must initiate the submission process for their students by logging into My Research Human Protocols (MRHP) within their My Research portal and by following the instructions for student submissions.
Whether applying for an ethics review with the REB or the DERC, the approval process may require revisions and resubmission of the Protocol Form. Applicants of ethics protocols are encouraged to submit the completed forms well in advance of the course and/or research project start date. Questions about ethics protocols can be sent to the Sociology Research Coordinator.
Deadlines for Submitting to the DERC: Fall semester: September 1; Winter semester: Dec 1; Summer semester: May 1