Marketing or audit surveys

(quality assurance and evaluation activities)

At present, staff who wish to conduct a survey of students or colleagues which is not

academic research but is for marketing or audit purposes do not, in general, require ethics

clearance. This might be the case if, for example, the survey is a management tool to

establish or ensure that you are offering a service that meets the needs of your users, or to

identify gaps in service provision.

However, if you would like to take advantage of the benefits of having your survey methods

and protocol reviewed by an expert panel who can provide advice on best practice and

improved procedures and outcomes, BUHREC are pleased to offer this service.

As a rule of thumb, if a research publication is anticipated as a result of a survey, it would be

classed as research and you must apply for ethics clearance. The NHMRC has produced

guidance on the Ethical Considerations in Quality Assurance and Evaluation Activities. If

you are unsure whether your project requires ethics clearance to proceed, please feel free to

discuss it with the Research Ethics Manager.

Staff who want to adopt an evidence-based practice approach to teaching and learning can

consult resources developed by Australian Human Research Consultancy Services

(AHRECS) about the ethical design and conduct of the Scholarship of Teaching and

Learning.