Research Ethics Reviews
Application: We conduct reviews of proposed research projects to determine if the projects are ethically sound. If you require a review, please download and fully complete the CREO Ethics Review Application Form and return it as an attachment in an email to: creo@communitybasedresearch.ca. We will send you a confirmation e-mail once your application is received by the Coordinator.
Our process: After submitting an application for ethical review, researchers are contacted by the reviewers with suggestions for enhancing the ethical conduct of research within their project. Given that many community based research projects are evolutionary in both design and implementation, our ethical review process may involve ongoing dialogue between the Community Research Ethics Board (CREB) and the researchers. When that dialogue is complete, projects that meet ethical standards in research will receive a statement of ethics approval. That statement should be used on all relevant documents, particularly any information/consent forms which research participants will receive. The timeline for this process is approximately 3-5 weeks based on the complexities of the research project.
Our fee: [Note: Our fees have changed as of June 1st, 2020.] Our fees for a research ethics review are based on a sliding scale self-determined by the operating budget of your organization as follows:
| ORGANIZATION TYPE | FEE |
| Nonprofits1 & Charities (Budgets under $100,000) | $100.00 |
| Nonprofits & Charities (Budgets $100,000 – $499,999) | $200.00 |
| Nonprofits & Charities (Budgets $500,000 – $999,999) | $300.00 |
| Nonprofits & Charities (Budgets over $1,000,000) | $400.00 |
| Major Institutions, foundations, government, for- profit corporations | $750.00 |
Once you have received approval, if you make any major changes to your research protocols, consent processes, etc., these must be submitted to CREO for further review. There may be an additional charge for this additional review, depending on the extent of the changes you have made and the time it takes for review.
Click on the link below to download the CREO Ethics Review Application Form.
Please don’t hesitate to contact the CREO Coordinator if you have any questions about the application form or the ethics review process:
creo@communitybasedresearch.ca or 1-888-411-2736.
Consultations
Are you conducting research with human subjects? Do you have questions about the ethics of your research project? Please do not hesitate to contact CREO to discuss any questions or concerns you may have. The CREO Coordinator may refer you to a member of CREO’s Research Ethics Board of Directors (CREB). Our Board members have varying degrees of direct experience and/or knowledge related to a large variety of disciplines.
Please click here for a list of CREB members: CREB. Where we do not have sufficient expertise, we will consult confidentially with outside sources.
Depending on the extent of the consultation required and on whether you intend to submit a full ethics review request, there may be a minimal charge for this service, negotiated with you in advance. This process is intended to be efficient, simple, and hassle free.
Please contact us at: creo@communitybasedresearch.ca.
Education
We provide training and educational workshops on the ethical conduct of community-based research. Some of our current workshops are:
- Do No Harm: The ethical challenges of community-based research.
- Am I Being Ethical In My Treatment of Participants and Communities?
- What Are the Ethical Considerations In Participatory Action Research?
We may also be able to design a workshop to meet your specific needs or be part of your own educational efforts related to research ethics. We have recently conducted research ethics workshops at CUEXPO (an international conference focused on university-community partnerships), Community Knowledge Exchange Summit (CKX) (a national event sponsored by the Ontario Trillium Foundation and Community Foundations of Canada), a stand- alone Research Ethics Workshop for Canadian and Indonesian scholars. We have also participated on a panel for the Community-Engaged Research Ethics Forum at McMaster University.
If you have ideas for training sessions or educational workshops that you would like us to develop or participate in, please contact us by telephone at: 1-888-411-2736 or by email at: creo@communitybasedresearch.ca for an opportunity to explore possibilities.