• Research with human subjects

All research with human subjects has to be assessed by one of the two chambers of the Faculty Ethics Assessment Committee for the Humanities (FEtC-H).

Note: Human-based big data research is not assessed by the FEtC-H; for this type of research you can use the Self-reflection Guide Human-Based Big Data Research.

The FEtC-H works with a web portal, a special digital environment where the study can be registered.

Registrations of new studies are screened during submission through the FEtC-H portal and assigned to one of three categories (see the Regulations)

which determine their subsequent treatment and duration of the process, resulting in a binding decision by the committee (see this flowchart for an overview). For further information surrounding the registration, associated concepts and the decisions procedure, please refer to the regulations.

Aanvragen worden in de portal gescreend, en ingedeeld in (zie het Reglement):

• the short route
• the long route*
• in exceptionals cases: to the METC

(see this flowchart for an overview).

*Applications in the long route go through two phases:

i. The application is first assessed by one of the faculty privacy officers to check of it complies with the GDPR.

ii. The role of the FEtC-H is then to assess whether the research meets ethical standards, whether participants are completely and adequately informed, and whether the information in the data management plan, the information letter(s) and the possible agreement/consent form(s) is consistent.

• GDPR and privacy

For advice, background information and contact details of the privacy officer, click here.

• Data management

For advice, background information and contact details of the data manager, click here.

• Templates

Templates for the informed consent documents are available here.

• Research with human subjects by students

A student checklist (‘Human-subject research’) is available for students who want to conduct research with human subjects; discuss this checklist with your supervisor. Only in exceptional cases, after the supervisor has consulted the FEtC-H, can research with human subjects by students be assessed by the FEtC-H.

For teachers supervising students, information is available on the intranet.