Services for Students

Research Ethics Board Applications and Information

PLEASE NOTE: THE REB WILL ONLY REVIEW APPLICATIONS THAT USE CONCORDIA'S REB APPLICATION FORMS

For information on research involving human subjects and animals, general policies on research, Academic Research Council (ARC), internal research support, teaching load reduction, and Research Ethics Board (REB), please consult: Faculty Handbook 4.17 Research and Scholarship.

Undergraduate Independent Study/Research Policy

This policy is directed to senior undergraduate students who are conducting an independent study and research with their professors. The intent is that, as much as is possible, the relevant Department undertake the ethics review assessment and that the student or students work with a professor, who will act as supervisor of the research project.

1. The student will complete the Undergraduate Research application form (available at the REB site).
2. This application will be reviewed by the student's professor as well as by the Department Chair.
3. If the professor and Department Chair both approve the application, then the application is complete and does not proceed to the REB.
4. Only in the case that the Department Chair has ethical concerns about the application should the application be submitted to the REB for review.

Undergraduate Research

For information regarding Concordia’s policy on undergraduate research projects involving human subjects and review procedure at the department level, please consult: Ethics Review Procedure for Undergraduate Research Projects.

Faculty members who require students to conduct research on human subjects must structure assignments in such a way that they can ensure ethical guidelines are followed at all stages of the research. For more information, please consult: Faculty Responsibility for Students Research Involving Human Subjects.

Graduate Research

Faculty members who require graduate students to conduct research on human subjects must structure assignments in such a way that they can ensure ethical guidelines are followed at all stages of the research. For information regarding Concordia’s policy on Graduate research projects involving human subjects and review procedure at the department level, please consult: Ethics Review Procedure for Graduate Research Projects.

Before undertaking research, a Graduate Student must complete the following Graduate Student Application Form and submit it to Concordia’s REB for review and approval: Graduate Student Application Form.

When completing the Graduate Student Application Form, Graduate Students and Faculty Supervisors should consult: Protocol for Graduate Student Applications.

Other Important Information

1. Common Mistakes in REB Applications
   To help applicants avoid many of the common mistakes that appear in REB applications, please consult: Common Mistakes in REB Applications
    
2. REB Guidelines for Storage of Research Information
   All REB applicants must ensure the privacy of their research participants, and that their personal information is not improperly disclosed. The REB strongly encourages all applicants to consult and implement the following: REB Guidelines for the Storage and Use of Personal Data obtained through Research
    
3. Important Submission Deadlines
   All applicants must submit their applications to Concordia’s REB at least 8 weeks before they plan to commence their research.
   As the REB does not meet between May and September, those planning to commence their research during the summer months must submit their applications to Concordia’s REB no later than March 1.
    
4. Sample Letters of Introduction and Consent Forms
   All REB applicants must ensure that they have proper Letters of Introduction and Consent Forms for their research participants. Below is a Consent-Form Checklist as well as some examples of Letters of Introduction and Consent Forms:
   1. Consent – Form Checklist
   2. Generic Letter of Introduction and Consent Form
   3. Generic Consent Form
   4. Faculty of Education: Letter of Introduction – Example 1
   5. Faculty of Education: Consent Form – Example 1
   6. Faculty of Education: Letter of Introduction and Consent Form – Example 2
   7. Department of Psychology: Letter of Introduction and Consent Form – Example 1
   8. Department of Psychology: Letter of Introduction and Consent Form – Example 2
   9. Environmental Health Program: Letter of Introduction –Example 1
   10. Environmental Health Program: Employee Consent Form – Example 1
   11. Environmental Health Program: Manager Consent Form – Example 1
   12. Department of Sociology: Consent Form – Example 1
   The above examples are for illustrative purposes only. The REB may require Applicants to include additional requirements in Applicants’ Letters of Introduction and Consent Forms that are not indicated in the above samples.