Research Ethics Committee at the Department of Psychology (IPS-REC)
The Research Ethics Committee at the Department of Psychology (IPS-REC) is an internal committee at UiT – The Arctic University of Norway. The committee considers applications for ethical review from staff and students at the Department of Psychology.
IPS-REC offers:
advice on research ethics and responsible research-data management;
guidance on which external bodies or procedures may be relevant to a project, including REK, REK-KULMU, and Sikt;
ethical review of psychology research projects that fall within the committee’s mandate and meet relevant ethical requirements.
The project leader is responsible for ensuring that the project complies with relevant ethical, legal, and institutional requirements. IPS-REC approval does not replace approvals, assessments, or notifications required by other bodies.
Depending on the nature of the project, you may also need to obtain a decision from the Regional Committees for Medical and Health Research Ethics (REK), REK-KULMU, and/or the Norwegian centre for research data (Sikt).
Does my project need to be assessed by REK or REK-KULMU?
REK assesses research covered by the Norwegian Health Research Act, that is, medical and health research whose purpose is to generate new knowledge about health and disease. This may include research involving patients, health information, human biological material, or clinical interventions.
REK-KULMU is relevant for clinical investigations of medical devices, including devices used to diagnose, prevent, monitor, or treat disease; investigate or modify anatomy or physiological processes; analyse human samples; emit high-intensity electromagnetic radiation; or stimulate the brain using electrical currents or magnetic fields.
Please consult the information on the REK portal and, where relevant, REK-KULMU.
If REK or REK-KULMU may be relevant: Do not submit an application to IPS-REC before you have received a response from REK or REK-KULMU.
First, submit a request for a formal assessment (fremleggingsvurdering) to REK if you are uncertain whether your project falls under the Health Research Act.
REK/REK-KULMU approval is required: Submit a full application to REK or REK-KULMU. You do not need to apply to IPS-REC.
REK determines that the project is outside its mandate: You may then submit an application to IPS-REC, including REK’s decision or assessment.
You are uncertain whether REK/REK-KULMU is relevant: Submit a request for a formal assessment to REK and wait for their response before applying to IPS-REC.
This flowchart illustrates the process of applying for ethical approval from REK and IPS-REC.
Does my project involve personal data or require Sikt/UiT privacy procedures?
Personal data include information that can identify a person directly or indirectly, such as names, email addresses, audio or video recordings, IP addresses, location data, or combinations of background information.
The project involves personal data: Follow UiT’s procedures for personal-data processing and complete any required assessment, notification, or registration through Sikt/UiT. You should also proceed with the relevant ethical review process through REK or IPS-REC, as applicable.
The project does not involve personal data: Proceed with the relevant REK or IPS-REC application. In your application, explain why the project does not involve personal data and how confidentiality will be protected.
Note: A Sikt or institutional privacy assessment concerns lawful and secure processing of personal data. It does not replace ethical review by REK or IPS-REC.
Does my project involve health research with Sámi participants or communities?
Please consult the relevant guidance on Sámi health research and collective consent.
Collective consent is not required: Proceed with the relevant REK or IPS-REC application. Researchers should nevertheless consider issues of community involvement, representation, data governance, potential group harms, and the relevance and benefit of the research for Sámi communities.
Applying for ethical review by IPS-REC
Before submitting an application, please ensure that REK/REK-KULMU has confirmed that the project does not require their approval, if this may be relevant.
Use the IPS-REC application template, available in English or Norwegian.
Answer all questions in the template.
Attach all relevant documents, including:
participant information sheet and consent form
questionnaires, interview guides, or other study materials
data-management plan
If you are submitting a revised application, highlight all changes from the previous version.
If you are following up a previously approved application, state the reference number of the original application.
Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences and Education
The Research Ethics Committee at the Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences, and Education (HSL)
The Research Ethics Committee at the HSL faculty reviews and approves research by faculty staff and students that needs documented institutional ethics approval.
The committee offers
advice on how a research project can be conducted in an ethically responsible manner, i.e., ensuring that research activities involving human participants are conducted with respect for the dignity, rights, and welfare of participants and in a way that minimizes risks to participants, researchers, and other involved parties;
advice on other approvals/permits that may be relevant for a research project, e.g., Sikt (Norwegian Agency for Shared Services in Education and Research) or other legal bodies;
The Research Ethics Committee follows the Norwegian and international legislation for research involving human participants as well as national and EU rules for the protection of personal data (see links below). The committee consists of six members from various academic fields and departments at the HSL faculty.
Applying for ethics approval of a research project
Please consider first whether your project should be notified to Sikt (Norwegian Agency for Shared Services in Education and Research). If you are collecting and processing personal data in a research project, you should notify Sikt. Personal data are any data that can be linked to a person. Processing is any operation that is performed on personal data, including collecting and registering, arranging and analyzing, transferring and storing as well as publishing and archiving (https://sikt.no/en/personvernhandbok-forskning/what-personal-data). If only anonymous data are collected, the project does not require notification to Sikt. If it is necessary for you to obtain approval from HSL-Ethics in addition to the approval from Sikt, we recommend that you first obtain permission from Sikt.
Answer all relevant questions in the template. Submit your application by e-mail to research-ethics.hsl@uit.no
If you submit a revised version of a previous application, highlight all changes you have made since the original submission and provide the number of the original application in your new submission.
