Ethics FAQs

Due to the potentially intrusive nature of telephone interviews, ethics applications must clearly justify the use of this method in relation to the research objectives. This approach is generally appropriate only for research classified as low or negligible risk. Researchers must ensure that prospective participants receive an information sheet prior to any telephone contact.

Applications should include a detailed script for the telephone interview, encompassing the introduction, verbal consent process, and sample or draft questions. It is important to note that recording telephone interviews is not permitted unless explicit consent is obtained from the participant.

House-to-house surveying must be clearly justified as the most appropriate and necessary method for achieving the aims of your research project, considering its inherently intrusive nature. Researchers conducting door-to-door data collection are required to prioritise both their own safety and the wellbeing of community members by ensuring they are accompanied by at least one other person, displaying valid James Cook University identification, and carrying a mobile phone for emergency contact.

In accordance with the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research, all face-to-face interactions must be conducted with respect for participant privacy and dignity, minimising any potential disruption or discomfort.

The James Cook University Human Research Ethics Committee (JCU HREC) can review and approve research involving patients or clients from private healthcare practices, including General Practices, physiotherapy clinics, speech therapy services, and other non-Health Service District providers. A letter of support from the private entity should accompany the ethics application. However, research involving Queensland Health patients, hospital patients, or associated patient data must be reviewed and approved by the relevant hospital or Health Service District Human Research Ethics Committee, as permission to access and recruit these individuals lies with those committees and cannot be granted by JCU.

Where research is requesting to access retrospective patient data, it is imperative that the appropriate consent was obtained from the patients. The Human Research Ethics Committee will require evidence that such consent is in place and will review this as part of the ethics application.

Researchers are also responsible for confirming with the private practice whether additional approvals from other ethics committees or regulatory bodies are required. Adherence to all applicable ethical and institutional requirements is essential to protect participant welfare and maintain research integrity

Offering payment to research participants is permissible under ethical guidelines, provided that such payments are appropriate, do not exert undue influence or coercion, and are clearly justified within the research context.

According to the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (2025), payments should not compromise voluntary participation or the ability of individuals to freely provide informed consent. The appropriateness of participant payments is assessed on a case-by-case basis by the Human Research Ethics Committee to ensure they are proportionate to the time, inconvenience, or expenses incurred by participants and are transparently disclosed in the Participant Information Sheet.

Ethics committees, including the James Cook University Human Research Ethics Committee, carefully review payment arrangements to safeguard participant welfare and uphold ethical standards. Researchers are advised to provide a clear rationale for participant payments within their ethics application.

The research team is responsible for consulting with their College and relevant institutional departments, such as Finance, to confirm whether their proposed incentive arrangements comply with applicable university policies and procedures. The HREC provides ethical approval regarding the appropriateness of the proposed incentives for the research but does not have the delegation to approve administrative or procedural aspects of incentive distribution. Should the approved incentive arrangement be deemed unfeasible by the relevant university authorities, the research team must submit an amendment to the HREC to revise the incentive details prior to commencing participant recruitment.

Letters of support or approval from external organisations relevant to your research must be included with your ethics application at the time of submission to the Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC). If these letters have not been obtained by the submission date, it is essential to clearly state this within your application and confirm that the letters will be provided to the Human Ethics Officer as soon as they become available.

For research involving James Cook University students, approval to access participants within specific disciplines or courses must be obtained from the respective Head of School. Access to the broader JCU student population, including any associated student data, requires approval from the University's Privacy Officer and their approval must be provided to the HREC.

If your research involves the use of translators or interpreters, your ethics application must include details about how translation services will be managed to ensure accurate and culturally appropriate communication. This includes providing information on the qualifications and training of the translator, measures to maintain participant confidentiality, and how consent will be obtained and documented through the translator. Additionally, any translated participant materials, such as information sheets and consent forms, should be submitted as part of the application.