Review of research merit

The National Statement on Ethics in Human Research (NS) requires the CSU HREC to consider the academic merit of the applications they review. This is because “unless proposed research has merit … the involvement of human participants in the research cannot be ethically justifiable” (NS, p. 9).

The CSU HREC members are not required by the NS, nor necessarily qualified, to assess the merit of each application.To supplement the CSU HREC's review we require evidence of the academic merit of the proposed research to be provided by a suitably qualified academic independent of the research team.

Question 1.12 in the HREA specifically asks if academic review has occurred; if you answer ‘no’ to this question your application will be returned.

Please use the text box below Q1.12 on the HREA to provide the evidence of your selection of Yes.

The form of verification of academic merit is your choice, and will depend on the context of your research. Researchers have generally demonstrated the academic merit of their research by:

• Indicating that the research proposal of a student researcher has been through school or faculty review process. This may include seminars, or review by a course coordinator, or other quality review process.
• Demonstrating that the research is funded through a process of competitive review.
• Demonstrating that the research approach exactly or closely follows an approach published in a peer-reviewed journal. (In this case, please provide the journal reference.)
• Asking a qualified and or experienced academic to review the research and confirm the academic merit of the research. In this case follow the general approach described below

The HREC Peer Review form is one way that you can provide the HREC with evidence of scientific/academic merit.

Evaluation of the scientific/academic merit of a research project

To be completed prior to submission of a project for ethical review

Instructions to researchers:

• Identify an individual or group with the relevant discipline or topic knowledge and expertise to review the scientific/academic merit of your project.
• The material on which the evaluator/s bases their review should be determined by you and the evaluator/s. (The reviewer may decide that the project description that needs to accompany your HREA application will be sufficient for this purpose.) Provide the evaluator(s) with the instructions provided below.
• Attach the evaluation report at the end of your Project Description, and include it with your HREA and other paperwork for the HREC.

Instructions to evaluators:

• Your evaluation must be informed by the following information from the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research.
• Please address all points in your evaluation report, paying particular attention to those marked * which require judgements drawing on discipline- or topic-specific knowledge.
• There is no prescribed format or length for evaluations. As per the NHMRC, your evaluation should be “robust, formal and independent of the researcher and research proponents, including any sponsors of the research” (HREA website).