Professional ethics codes and guidelines
- The European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity (ALLEA)
- Association of Internet Researchers: Ethics guide
- Association of Social Anthropologists of the UK and the Commonwealth: Ethical guidelines for good research practice
- British Educational Research Association: Ethics and educational research
- British Psychological Society: Code of human research ethics
- British Psychological Society: Ethics guidelines for internet-mediated research
- British Society of Criminology: Statement of ethics
- British Society of Gerontology: Guidelines on ethical research with human participants
- British Sociological Association: Guidelines on ethical research
- Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
- UK Government: Rigour, respect, responsibility: a universal ethical code for scientists
- Ethical Research Involving Children: Ethical guidance
- European Science Foundation: European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity
- Health Research Authority
- Health Research Authority: Do I need NHS REC approval
- International Visual Sociology Association: Code of Research Ethics and Guidelines
- Market Research Society: Code of Conduct
- Medical Research Council: Use of human samples in medical research
- Nuffield Council on Bioethics: Dementia: Ethical Issues
- Nuffield Council on Bioethics: Children and clinical research: ethical issues
- OECD iLibrary: Research ethics and new forms of data for social and economic research
- Science Europe: Research Integrity
- Social Research Association: Ethics Guidelines
- UK Research Integrity Office: Code of Practice for Research: Promoting good practice and preventing misconduct
- Universities UK: Concordat to support research integrity
Templates and forms
The following websites offer example templates for information sheets and consent forms. Remember to adhere to the requirements of your research organisation (or other relevant body) when preparing a consent form, tailor it to the needs of your specific project.
- Open University: Human Research Ethics Committee – project registration and risk checklist
- University of Sussex: Does your research require ethical review? A self-assessment checklist
- UK Data Service: Consent for data sharing
- UK Research Integrity Office: Checklist for researchers
- Health Research Authority: Qualitative protocol guidance and template
ESRC ethics resources
- Example research ethics initial checklist
- Example ethics review application forms and protocols
- ESRC proposal ethics statements
- Example flowchart of review process
- Key terms glossary
Last updated: 18 December 2025