Ethics and SONA resources
SONA resources
For more information about using SONA to recruit participants, refer to the UNSW Sona Researchers Guide, opens in a new window.
Ethics resources
When submitting an ethics application at UNSW, you must determine if your project involves ‘negligible risk’, ‘low risk’, or ‘more than low risk’ according to the NHMRC.
‘Negligible risk research’ describes research in which there is no foreseeable risk of harm or discomfort; and any foreseeable risk is no more than inconvenience.
‘Low risk research’ describes research in which the only foreseeable risk is one of discomfort. Research in which the risk for participants is more serious than discomfort is not low risk.
Negligible and low risk applications are reviewed by the Human Research Ethics Approval Panel – C: Behavioural Sciences (HREAP-C). Applications that involve more than low risk are reviewed by the Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC, opens in a new window).
Human Research Ethics Approval Panel – C: Behavioural Sciences (HREAP-C)
The HREAP-C accepts requests for review and approval by UNSW School of Psychology staff and students.
The HREAP-C provides review and approval of:
1) NEW ‘negligible’ or ‘low risk’ projects.
To request approval for a new study, complete your application at https://irecs.unsw.edu.au/, opens in a new window following this guidance, opens in a new window.
2) MODIFICATION to projects already approved by the HREAP-C.
To request approval of a modification (e.g. to add an investigator, change questions/surveys/tasks, change the study duration or recompense, recruit from new sources) of a project approved by the HREAP-C before AUG 2023 follow this legacy modification guidance, opens in a new window.
To request approval of a project approved by the HREAP-C after AUG 2023, complete your modification request at https://irecs.unsw.edu.au/, opens in a new window
3) ADDITIONAL SONA PARTICIPANTS.
To request approval for additional SONA participants, complete the HREAP-C Application for Participants form, opens in a new window using this checklist, opens in a new window.
Additional instructions and forms you may need to prepare your submissions are available below.
Ethics and Sona resources
Please follow the links below for more information and resources on the Research Participation program for staff and graduate students.
- UNSW Sona Researchers Guide, opens in a new window
- Guide for Allocating Additional Points on SONA-1, opens in a new window
- Sona debrief questions, opens in a new window
- HREAP Recruitment flyer template, opens in a new window
- Managing Participant Wellbeing, opens in a new window (aka Managing Distressed Participants)
- Home Work / Pre-Work Policy, opens in a new window
