Supervisors of Research

Supervisors of Research

This section is designed to offer supervisory support and blended skill development to both experienced supervisors of student research and those new to submitting their work for research ethics review together with their students.  It aims to answer the collection of questions routinely received from supervisors.

SMU Resources relating to Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Guiding Principles for Graduate Student Supervision
• SMU Senate Policy on Research Integrity in Research and Scholarship

Educational Resources to Provide to Classes

Research students complete the TCPS 2 Course on Research Ethics (CORE) as part of course requirement.  This online tutorial, designed by the Panel of Research Ethics, provides an applied approach to the guidance provided in TCPS 2.  It is a self-paced course, media-rich learning experience that features interactive exercises and multi-disciplinary examples.  CORE consists of 10 modules ranging from Core Principles to REB Review.  It is designed primarily for the use of researchers and REB members, though anyone may take this course and print their own Certificate of Completion.  Work can be saved and learners can return to their modules at another time.  Students and faculty should specifically identify "Saint Mary's University" as their home institution at the time of registration.

The Office of Research Ethics has copies of the CORE course pack available to faculty members to assist with their planning and time management.  Please contact the office for guidance and to obtain your copy.

Instructors are encouraged to share some key information with their students focusing on core research ethics principles, the importance of informed consent and researchers delivering promises made to research participants using these presentation materials:

Ethics in Research with Humans

Submission for student research and their subsequent communication must come from the faculty supervisor. Requests received from students only cannot be accepted by the REB.

Directions to provide to student researchers:

• SMU REB Frequently Asked Questions
• Guidelines for Continuing Research Ethics Review during COVID-19 Pandemic- Form 2: Request for Changes to Cleared Research

Directions to provide to graduate students conducting multi-jurisdictional research:

• TCPS 2, Chapter 8: Multi-jurisdictional Research
• Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research: Graduate Research Hazard Assessment Form
• UNESCO Social and Human Sciences Global Ethics Observatory

Frequently visited TCPS 2 Articles

Chapter 2: Scope and Approach

• Article 2.1  Research Requiring REB Review
• Article 2.2  Research Exempt from REB Review
• Article 2.8  REB Review Shall Be Continuing
• Article 2.9  Adequate Level of Expertise and Risks to Researchers

Chapter 3: The Consent Process

• Article 3.1  Consent Shall Be Given Voluntarily
• Article 3.2  Consent Shall Be Informed

Chapter 5: Privacy and Confidentiality

• Article 5.1  Ethical Duty of Confidentiality
• Article 5.3  Safeguarding Information
• Article 5.5  Consent and Secondary Use of Identifiable Information for Research Purposes

Chapter 7: Conflicts of Interest

• Article 7.4 Researchers and Conflict of Interests- Dual Roles

Chapter 8: Multi-jurisdictional Research

• Article 8.2 Multi-jurisdictional Research- Ethics Review of Research Conducted outside the Institution

Chapter 10: Qualitative Research

• Article 10.1  Qualitative Research- Timing of REB Review
• Article 10.2  Modalities of Expression of Consent
• Article 10.3  Observational Studies
• Article 10.4  Privacy and Confidentiality in the Dissemination of Research Results
• TCPS 2 Glossary
• TCPS 2 Interpretations