Dive into our comprehensive collection of guidelines, policies, templates, and training to help facilitate the ethical conduct of research studies involving human participants.
To manage your Ethics application, go to TRAQ.
The Research Ethics Board Guidebook: Navigating Ethical Practices for Human Participant Research is your comprehensive companion for ethical considerations when conducting research involving human participants.
Access our archive of ethics guidelines and fillable templates to support your research activities. These resources are designed to help you navigate requirements and maintain best practices throughout your work.
Available topics resources include:
- Applicant checklist of submission requirements (GREB/HSREB)
- Bots, suspicious data, and other issues when conducting research online through surveys
- Case report study/series
- Compensation and reimbursement
- Course-based research ethics applications
- Data retention and data repositories
- Debriefing letter for studies involving deception
- Focus groups and semi-structured interviews
- Master linking log and participant information log
- Peer review guidelines
- Pre-screening for research studies
- Quality assurance (QA), quality improvement (QI), and program evaluation (PE)
- Recruitment (including snowball recruitment and finder fees)
- Reviewer checklist
- Social media in research
Researchers must obtain consent from all participants when using identifiable data or biological materials, across methods such as interviews, surveys, or online studies. Before starting any activities, participants should receive clear, plain-language information to make an informed decision. Researchers are encouraged to use Queen’s guidelines and forms to ensure consent materials are complete and compliant.
Standard operating procedures (SOPs) offer a comprehensive and detailed roadmap, outlining the specific expectations and requirements governing research conduct within our academic community. Approved under the authority of the Vice-Principal of Research (VPR), these SOPs serve as a cornerstone for researchers, providing clear guidelines to navigate the complexities of ethical research practices.
Please note that these documents are subject to periodic revisions and updates.
Researchers are required to submit applications to the General Research Ethics Board (GREB) or the Health Sciences Research Ethics Board (HSREB), as well as event forms for activities that occur throughout their research. To support you in this process, we have provided a collection of fillable templates for GREB and HSREB application and events forms, along with additional resources.
Internal Queen's Training
Build a strong foundation in ethical research practices with Queen’s research ethics training programs, available to support researchers at every stage.
View Queen's research ethics training programs
External Training
Foundations of privacy in research
Queen's research faculty and staff can access this course, offered through the Network of Networks (N2). This program is designed to strengthen understanding of how to manage and protect research-related information. Queen's NetID is required to access the course.
Create a Dualcode account (or login if you already have one) and then click this link to enroll.
Federal and provincial policy
Health Canada
- Clinical Trial Application (CTA)
- Food and Drug Regulations
- Medical Devices
- Health Product and Food Branch Inspectorate Compliance and Enforcement
U.S. regulatory sites
Need assistance?
The research ethics team is here to provide guidance and support, so you can move your research forward with confidence.
Virtual drop-in
Join the research ethics team at our bi-weekly virtual drop-in sessions and get your questions answered.