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Safeguarding data

Research data ethics

All research at the university must be conducted to high ethical standards and comply with any legal requirements. This includes research data management.

Research data containing personal data is subject to UK data protection law. The law places obligations on you as a researcher.

You must consider issues such as:

  • consent
  • confidentiality
  • privacy
  • security
  • disclosure
  • protection
  • safeguarding
  • risk
  • human rights.

You should consider whether personal data (eg names and addresses) adds research value. If it does, you should inform your participants and seek explicit consent for the use of their data.

When you seek permission from participants, ensure that you make provision for the sharing and reuse of data in the participant consent information and sign-off form. The University provides information and guidance on good practice in ethics and ethical review.

Further help

You might also find the following guidance useful: