Research Ethics Board

The Research Ethics Board (REB) has been mandated by Lethbridge College policy to examine and approve research proposals involving human subjects. It has been created to ensure that ethical principles and standards respecting the personal welfare and rights of subjects have been recognized and accommodated. All research and research-related activity involving human participants conducted under the auspices of the College shall fall within the jurisdiction of the Research Ethics Board.

 Scope

• Research is defined as a systematic investigation to establish facts, principles or knowledge.
• This applies to all research which is conducted within, or by members of, Lethbridge College, regardless of funding source or research location.
• Members of the College include faculty members, administrators, all other employees of the College, and students.
• The REB has authority to approve, reject, propose modifications to, or terminate both new proposals and on-going research.
• Approval of new proposals must be granted before the research is started.
• Ongoing research shall be subject to continuing ethics review.

Course Based Research

• Regarding Course Based Research, much of what happens in the classroom will remain unchanged. However, it is imperative to determine the difference between Research and Professional Skill Development, as research must have prior approval, while skill development does not.
• Course-based Research varies in scope but includes activities such as students conducting interviews, administering standardized tests, and distributing questionnaires. It also includes conducting projects that pose research questions, gather data from human participants, and analyze that data for presentation.
• The instructor, in the case of course-based research, holds primary responsibility for the ethics review application and for student adherence to ethical treatment of human participants; the student holds secondary responsibility.
• Course-based activities that are considered Professional Skill Development are exempt from Ethical Review requirements.

Applications and Information

• Download the General Application form here.
• The REB meets monthly.
• All REB applications must be received in full on or before the 15th of each month to be reviewed during the next meeting.
• Contact the REB Coordinator for information, application forms, and submission deadlines.

Melissa Scullen, Research Ethics Board Coordinator
Office: TE1220
Phone: 403-394-7344 Fax: 403-394-7370
Email: appliedresearch@lethbridgecollege.ca