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
- 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:
- 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
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.
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: 16 June 2026