The Research Ethics Board (REB) exists to ensure proper ethical procedures are employed in research that involves human subjects. Our guidelines are extracted from the Tri Council Policy Statement (TCPS; for more information see Canadian Guidelines). Researchers wishing to conduct research involving human subjects must have their project approved by the REB before active research begins.
The following tutorial will give both researchers and members of the REB very helpful insight into the criteria considered in the process of granting ethics approval.
TCPS 2 Tutorial Course on Research Ethics (CORE)
Submitting an Application for REB Approval
Friday, June 1st at 12 pm is the deadline for submissions of applications for the last formally scheduled meeting of the summer of 2012. Please see "Schedule of REB Meetings" below for further details on submission during the summer months.
Application Form (revised March 8th, 2012)
Researchers interested in submitting an application for ethics approval may download and complete an application form. Seven copies of the completed form, including at least one signed original copy, should be delivered to Danielle MacDonald by mail (Campus Box 52) or in person (Annex 123A). Applications can also be left with Marion Stewart-MacDonald at the Psychology Department main office, Annex 103.
To have your application considered for any given meeting, submission should be completed no later than 12 pm, one week prior to the meeting date.
Please consult the following documents:
'Invitation to Participate’ and ‘Consent Forms' contain sample forms and useful REB checklists.
Some common changes to applications requested by the StFX REB are given in the attached pdf.
Some common changes to applications requested by the StFX REB are given in the attached pdf.
Fleisch-Kincaid analysis: Question 13 on the REB application deals with Plain Language Usage. If you are concerned about the reading/comprehension level of your participants, Microsoft offers an analysis tool that can assess the grade level of a document. You may find this useful to determine if the content of your research is approriate for the participants involved. Click here for instructions on how to activate this feature in Microsoft word.
What do I need to know once approval has been granted?
Anniversary dates: You are required to submit reports to the REB each year following approval until the project is complete. You will be reminded of this obligation as the anniversary of original approval approaches. A sample report can be found here.
Protocol changes: The principal investigator is obligated to inform the REB as soon as is possible with respect to protocol changes that affect the informed consent of participants (TCPS 2- Article 3.3). In general, researchers should inform the REB of any changes to protocol.
Requests for changes in protocol can be made by contacting the REB Chair. Principal investigators should consider the changes in the levels of risk and vulnerability of the participants and how they plan to address these changes.
Further information
REB Policy Statement (St. FX)
More information on Canadian consultation and deliberative bodies, ethical research as it pertains to Aboriginal peoples and other sites of interest can be found in the menu near the top left of this page.
Questions or concerns
If you have any general or specific questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact either Dan MacInnes or Danielle MacDonald by email or phone. Or email reb@stfx.ca.