Resources

Frequently asked questions

Quickly find the answers to some common ethics questions

1. Does my project require Human Research Ethics approval?

If your project involves human participants, their data, or their tissue, it may require ethics review. The level of review depends on the nature of the research and the level of risk to participants. If you are unsure, contact the Human Research Ethics team for advice before commencing your project.

2. What is considered “human research”?

Human research includes research conducted with or about people, their data, their biospecimens or tissue, or information that can identify them. This includes surveys, interviews, focus groups, observations, clinical studies, use of existing datasets, and research involving human tissue.

3. What is low risk research?

Low risk research is research where the only foreseeable risk is one of discomfort. Research involving greater potential harms requires review by a Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC).

4. When can I start collecting data?

You must not begin recruiting participants or collecting data until you have received written ethics approval (or other formal notification, where applicable) from the University.

5. Can I change my project after ethics approval?

Yes. Any changes to an approved project should be submitted for review and you must receive approval before they are implemented. This includes changes to the study design, participant group, recruitment methods, information sheets, consent forms or research team.

6. What should I do if something unexpected happens during my research?

Researchers are responsible for reporting reportable events, such as serious adverse events, participant safety concerns, protocol deviations or other unexpected issues that may affect the ethical acceptability of the research. Reportable events should be submitted promptly in accordance with University procedures.

7. Do I always need participant consent?

In most cases, yes. Participants should voluntarily consent after receiving sufficient information about the research. In limited circumstances, an ethics committee may approve an alteration or waiver of consent where this is ethically justified under the National Statement.

8. Can I use data or tissue that has already been collected?

Possibly. Secondary use of existing data or biospecimens may still require ethics review, particularly if the material is identifiable or was collected for another purpose. The ethics requirements will depend on the circumstances of the proposed research.

9. Is anonymous data the same as de-identified data?

No. Anonymous data cannot reasonably identify an individual. De-identified data has had identifying information removed, but individuals may still be re-identifiable when combined with other information. Audio and video recordings are generally considered identifiable because they contain recognisable voices or images.

10. Do student research projects require ethics approval?

Yes, where the project involves human research. Student research is subject to the same ethical principles as all other human research and must receive the appropriate level of ethics review before commencing.

A guide to data types

Knowing exactly how your data is being collected and stored, and communicating that clearly to your participants is essential for them to give informed consent before they participate in your research.

It is common for these data types to be mislabelled and for terminology to be used incorrectly. Someone’s data can be said to be kept confidential but not necessarily anonymous.

You may collect anonymous data, but to later refer to it as deidentified would be a contradiction.

If you are recording video and/or audio of your participants, it is not possible for their data to be anonymous.

Non-identifiable (anonymous)
Re-identifiable (coded)
Identifiable

Non-identifiable (anonymous)

Non-identifiable, or anonymous data is data which has been collected with no names or personal identifiers attached. Data cannot reasonably be linked to an individual because no identifying information has been collected or retained.

Example: An anonymous survey that does not collect names, email addresses, IP addresses or any other information that could identify participants.

Re-identifiable (coded)

Re-identifiable data is data where there are personal identifiers attached at the time of data collection, which are subsequently removed. This data can also be referred to as “de-identified or “coded”. Identifying information has been replaced with a code, but a key exists that could reconnect the data to the individual if required. Only authorised people have access to the code. Includes pseudonymised data.

Example: A participant is assigned “P001” instead of their name. A separate password-protected file links P001 to the participant’s identity

Important: Audio recordings, video recordings and photographs are generally considered re-identifiable because they contain a person’s voice or image. They are not anonymous, even if names are not recorded

Identifiable

The identity of participants is known or can reasonably be determined from the data, either directly or indirectly. Research outputs would identify the participants without using codes or pseudonyms.

Examples: Interview recordings, video footage, names, email addresses, or combinations of information that could identify someone.

InfoEd help

All of our InfoEd guides, including a complete user guide on submitting a new application, as well as shorter guides for specific uses (e.g. Annual reports) can be found under the Help section of InfoEd

Go to InfoEd

Policies and procedures

The following three research policies cover all matters pertaining to research conduct

Research Management Policy
Authorship, Peer Review and Publication of Research Outputs Procedures
Responsible Conduct of Research (Employees) Procedures

The following policies and documents are also relevant to research conduct

Internal links

Academic Freedom and Freedom of Speech Policy

Artificial Intelligence (A)I Policy

Complaints Procedures

Consultancy Procedures

Contracts Registration Procedures

Curtin University Code of Conduct

Curtin University Values

Delegations Register

Delegations Policy

Disclosure of Relationships and Interests Procedures

Donations to Curtin Policy

Fieldwork (Work Integrated Learning) Policy & Procedures

Foreign Risk Policy

Health and Safety Policy

Higher Degree by Research (HDR) Supervision Policy & Procedures

Information Management Policy & Procedures

Intellectual Property Policy & Procedures

Research Data and Primary Materials Policy

Research Costing and Pricing

Risk Management Policy and Procedures

Working with Children Check Procedures

External links

Australian code for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes 8th edition 2013 (updated 2021)

Australian Research Council Open Access Policy

AIATSIS Code of Ethics for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research

CAUL Statement on Open Scholarship

Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) Ethical Conduct in Research with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and Communities: Guidelines for researchers and stakeholders

FAIR Data Principles

Higher Education Standards Framework (HESF): Standards 4.1.1, 4.1.2, 5.2.1, 6.2.1

Keeping Research on Track II

Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research (2018)

NHMRC and MRFF Open Science Policy

National Health and Medical Research Council Research Quality Strategy

National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research 2025 | NHMRC

Policy Statement on F.A.I.R. Access to Australia’s Research Outputs

Recommendations for the Conduct, Reporting, Editing and Publication of Scholarly Work in Medical Journals (Vancouver Protocol)

UN Declaration of Rights of Indigenous Peoples

Contact us

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The ethics office is here to help if you have any questions regarding your research, how to apply for ethics, using InfoEd, participant recruitment and consent and any other questions relating to ethics.

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