Human-research ethics for SoTL projects – What do you need to know?

by Dr Anna Rowe (UNSW Education Portfolio), Dr Chantal Bostock (UNSW Law and Justice), Michael Hong (UNSW Research Ethics & Compliance Support), and Leonne Thompson (UNSW Research Ethics  & Compliance Support)

The scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) is a vibrant and vital aspect of educational practice that explores how students learn and how teachers teach.  If you’re already familiar with SoTL, and are thinking of undertaking your own formal inquiry into how your students learn or your teaching practices, and disseminating this information to others so that they can replicate good practice in their own teaching contexts (Healy et al., 2000), you may need to familiarise yourself with how principles of research ethics apply to SoTL.  (If you’re not quite at that point yet, and would like to learn more about SoTL, you can read the article “Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL): Your new academic superpower” on the UNSW Education web site, and check out the new UNSW SOTL support website.[i])

How do research ethics apply to SoTL? 

As Hutchings et al. (2011) observe, “the scholarship of teaching and learning is, at its core, an approach to teaching that is informed by inquiry and evidence...about student learning” (p. 10). It has emerged as “part of a broader transformation in the intellectual culture of higher education”, in which there is greater scrutiny of the efficacy of educational programs (Hutchings, 2011, pp. 3, 4). It is a welcome development, given scarce resources (see, for example, Jackson, 2023). The ethics process provides a formal framework in which educators must explain how they will test research hypotheses about student learning in an ethical manner, and a mechanism by which they will be held to account. It is vital that those applying for ethics approval fully understand and adhere to its requirements, in the same way they would when undertaking research in their own discipline. 

What are key considerations when applying for ethics approval?

• Understand the various risk categories, as the corresponding review committee will differ. Researchers should refer to the unique submission deadlines and meeting dates to minimise delays to the initial submission and review process. 
• The National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (2023) provides guidance from the National Health & Medical Research Council (NHMRC) about how all human research within Australia should be conducted and governed. There are comprehensive sections covering consent, how risk is stratified and the discrete responsibilities of researchers, ethics committees and institutions alike throughout the entire process. 
• Ensure ethics-application forms and all adjoining study documentation are consistent across the board. For example, apply consistent terminology (don’t use the terms “questionnaires” and “surveys” interchangeably; choose one or the other). If you make changes to one part of the application, remember to update the other parts. 
• Be aware that, within the context of SoTL, consent should be sought if you intend to use data collected in future research. This can be done by integrating an option within the Participant Information Sheet and Consent Form (PISCF), as is often the case in educational research seeking to use anonymised data sets or student experiences. 

Tips for getting started with your ethics application: 

• Start planning your project early. It’s important to have realistic goals for your SoTL project that are doable within the time you have available. Be mindful that projects with a higher risk level may take more time to be approved, so plan accordingly and factor this into project timelines.
• Contact the UNSW Ethics Office early (prior to submission) to get advice, particularly if you are not sure what risk level your project falls into (email: Humanethics@unsw.edu.au).
• Find an experienced discipline-expert who is familiar with ethics processes to collaborate on your project, or a mentor to review your application before submitting. 
• Use plain English. In drafting your ethics application, you must use clear, unambiguous language to ensure clarity. There is a significant chance that if, for example, your research aims are open to multiple interpretations, your application will require revision. 
• Pay close attention to detail. The ethics application requires careful consideration of multiple aspects of the project, including purpose, scope and time frame. Take the time at the outset to address all questions asked in the ethics application, as this will save you time and effort in the long run.  
• Underpin your application with a comprehensive literature review supported by appropriate citations to demonstrate that the research has a robust scholarly foundation.

References

Healey, M. (2000). Developing the Scholarship of Teaching in Higher Education: A discipline-based approach. Higher Education Research & Development, 19(2), 169–189. https://doi.org/10.1080/072943600445637

Hutchings, P., Huber, M. T., & Ciccone, A. (2011). The scholarship of teaching and learning reconsidered: Institutional integration and impact (Vol. 21). John Wiley & Sons.

Jackson, C. (2023). Unis heading for a funding cliff under policy chaos. Australian Financial Review (17 July). https://universitiesaustralia.edu.au/media-item/unis-heading-for-a-funding-cliff-under-policy-chaos/