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Research Data Management: Data Protection & Ethics

Ethics and Data Protection

ChecklistThe management and sharing of research data creates questions of data protection and ethical approval.  It is advisable to address these questions before the project starts, and to make sure that all parties are in agreement. Funders will expect your data management plan to demonstrate that you have considered these issues.

This page provides an overview of the issues and does not constitute legal advice.

Ethical Approval

All research projects involving human or animal data, or where research is classed as ‘sensitive’, must undergo an ethics review within the faculty. 

See: Research Requiring Ethical Approval

Sensitive Research

Data arising from sensitive research needs to be managed in accordance with DMU's Policy on Conducting Sensitive Research.

The definition of sensitive research encompasses a wide variety of research topics, but there are three broad research areas which would usually cause the research to be classified as ‘sensitive’:

  • Research into illegal activities, including the collection of source data, e.g. crime statistics; 
  • Research which requires access to web sites normally prohibited on university servers; including, but not limited to; pornography, or the sites of any of the organisations proscribed by the UK Government;
  • Research into extremism and radicalisation. 

Research and Data Protection at DMU

DMU's Guidance on GDPR for Researchers sets out what you need to think about when dealing with data about living individuals in your research, including your legal obligations.

 

Templates for Data Protection Impact Assessments, including a specific research-focused screening questionnaire, are available for staff on DMU Connect. 

 

For further information, contact: dataprotection@dmu.ac.uk 

Do I need a Data Protection Impact Assessment?

DMU Policy

Policy on Managing Research Data at DMU

"The legitimate interests of the subjects of research data, and future historical interests, must be protected, e.g. in accordance with data protection laws, research ethics, human rights and duty of confidence."

Responsibilities for Ethical Research

"Within a framework of good governance and appropriate training, responsibility for the conduct of ethical research must ultimately lie with the researchers themselves."

DMU's Data Protection Policy sets out DMU’s policy for the secure processing of personal data.

DMU RDM Training

DMU offers the following as part of the Researcher Development Programme:

  • Introduction to Research Data Management (for staff and PhD students)
  • Winning Funding with Data Management Planning (for staff only)

You can sign up for these via Resjourney

In addition, we recommend this web-based Research Data Management Course:

Click to go to the DMU Research Data Management Course