Research ethics

Ethical issues related to research with human subjects must be considered with extreme care before beginning a research study as they affect the design, implementation, analysis, and discussion of results. In addition to the Codes of Ethics of L’Association des art-thérapeutes du Québec (AATQ), the American Art Therapy Association (AATA), the Canadian Art Therapy Association (CATA), the National Association for Drama Therapy (NADT), and the Canadian Association for Music Therapy (CAMT), student researchers must consult the Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans statement jointly issued by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. 1998 (with 2000, 2002 and 2005 amendments).  This document is available in English and French (Énoncé de politique des trios Conseils (EPTC): Éthique de la recherche avec des êtres humains) at the Panel on Research Ethics website.

Ethical issues, including informed consent, are to be addressed in the students’ research paper/thesis proposal and in the Summary Protocol Form, and discussed with the Faculty Research & Ethics Advisory Committee as the study progresses.
 

Ethical review of research proposals

The Faculty Research & Ethics Advisory Committee reviews all student research proposals that involve the use of human participants.  These students must complete the Summary Protocol Form (SPF) designed by Concordia University's Office of Research Services, and submit copies of the completed form at the time that they submit their research proposals.  If you are including ANY material in your research paper – images, quotes, therapy notes, etc. that has come from another person – you MUST fill out the Summary Protocol Form (SPF) and your participant(s) must sign a Letter of Consent BEFORE participating in your research project.

The committee will review the SPF and direct any concerns regarding ethics to the student before the assigned research advisor signs the approval for the student to proceed with the research.  The committee may recommend changes in the design or nature of the research, if warranted, and will determine that all ethical questions concerning the research are satisfactorily addressed before permitting the student to proceed with the research.  The Faculty Research & Ethics Advisory Committee may consult with the University Ethics Committee for clarification or further review if necessary.  The research advisor’s approval must be obtained by the student before proceeding with the research.