Useful Ethics Resources for Non-HE based Researchers

Ethical research is essential to ensure the dignity, rights, and welfare of participants are respected and that findings are trustworthy and responsibly produced. For researchers operating outside of higher-education institutions, including independent researchers and small charities,  researchers’ responsibilities include not only to protecting participants but also to promote their rights to participation, particularly marginalised and vulnerable groups.

The ‘community of educational researchers’ is considered to mean all those engaged in educational research – including, for example, students following research-based programmes of study, independent researchers and practitioners who undertake research, as well as staff who conduct educational research in their employment within organisations such as universities, schools, local and national government, charities and commercial bodies.

However, we aware that ethical approval can be challenging without the institutional support that universities or other large organisations provide. Researchers outside of these institutions often face barriers such as limited access to formal ethics review processes, uncertainty about best practice, and a lack of resources or expertise in navigating ethical requirements.

To conduct ethical research effectively, all researchers should:

• Familiarise themselves with good research practice
• Identify a suitable ethics review route, such as approaching a university ethics committee (if collaborating with one), or considering alternatives if relevant.
• Document their ethical considerations clearly, including informed consent, data protection, and safeguarding procedures.
• Reflect on ethical issues throughout the research process.

Ethical standards apply to all research, regardless of scale. By planning carefully and seeking support, researchers outside of HEIs can ensure their work is robust, impactful, and ethically sound. We expect researchers to consult more specialist literature relevant to the tradition of research or specific methods as needed, so as to ensure that their research is undertaken in a way that is both valid and ethically appropriate.

BERA Resources

• BERA Ethical Guidelines for Educational Research, fifth edition (2024)
• Research Ethics Case Studies (2024)
• BERA Ethics and Guidance landing page

There are several other organisations who researchers may wish to approach for advice on independent ethical approval, ethical guidance, or further information. These include:

• Social Research Association (SRA) – Research ethics, ethics guidance, ethics appraisal service
• UK Research Integrity Office (UKRIO) – Advice for independent researchers and small charities
• Independent Research Ethics Committee – UK’s only Independent Research Ethics Committee, and was set up to provide full ethical review for proposed research projects
• British Psychological Society (BPS) – Statement on ethics review and independent research with human participants 

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