- If you are having difficulty determining if your study requires an ethics review, please use this QI Checklist to probe the nature of your project or contact ethics@centennialcollege.ca
- When your application is submitted, a preliminary review is done to determine the level of risk for participants. Studies that pose minimal risk undergo a delegated review which typically is completed within 15-20 business days.
- Studies that pose more than a minimal risk undergo a full review which can take up to four weeks. Plan your study to leave sufficient time for the ethics review.
Yes, all professors need Centennial College Research Ethics Board (CC REB) approval before they or their students collect information for assignments/projects from human participants. To learn more about if and how your course work may need REB support and review, please visit our Course-based Research Ethics (CRE) webpage.
- Start by familiarizing yourself with the principles and practices outlined in the Tricouncil Policy Statement tutorial (TCPS2). The tutorial is free and open to everyone.
- Read the Reviewer Checklist as you complete your own application.
- Refer to Tools and Resources if needed.
- Finally, feel free to contact the REB Chair with any questions you may have.
Yes, an application needs to be submitted for secondary use of information. Secondary use refers to the use in research of information originally collected for a purpose other than the current research purpose.
As outlined in the Tri-Council Policy Statement, Chapter 5, Section D, Consent and Secondary Use of Identifiable Information for Research Purposes, researchers who have not obtained consent from participants for secondary use of identifiable information shall only use such information for these purposes if:
- identifiable information is essential to the research;
- the use of identifiable information without the participants’ consent is unlikely to adversely affect the welfare of individuals to whom the information relates;
- the researchers will take appropriate measures to protect the privacy of individuals, and to safeguard the identifiable information;
- the researchers will comply with any known preferences previously expressed by individuals about any use of their information;
- it is impossible or impracticable to seek consent from individuals to whom the information relates; and
- the researchers have obtained any other necessary permission for secondary use of information for research purposes.
Information taken from St Clair College's REB FAQs.
If an adverse event occurs, please report it to ethics@centennialcollege.ca or the REB Chair, Sowmya Kishore at skishore@centennialcollege.ca within 48 hours of the occurrence.
Yes, the Centennial REB needs to go through its own evaluation and take into consideration the unique needs and circumstance for the Centennial Community. You will need to go through the Ethics Approval Process.
This form or process is for researchers who are planning to conduct research involving human participants at multiple colleges in Ontario. If your study will take place at two or more colleges, please contact Almost all colleges have agreed to accept the Ontario Community College Common REB application form; however, it is the researcher’s responsibility to contact the Research Ethics Board Coordinator at each college to check site-specific requirements and to determine where and how this form is submitted.
Centennial does not currently require a DMP. All researchers should be aware of the conditions of their grants as many grant-funding agencies may have this as a requirement of the grant. More information about DMPs are available through the library guide for Research Data Management (RDM).
DMPs are living documents that help you plan for effective data preservation. The DMP prompts you to think about data formatting, storage, and deposit before you even start your project. According to Canada’s Tri-Agency Council, a DMP should outline:
- how data will be collected, documented, formatted, protected & preserved;
- how existing datasets will be used and what new data will be created
- whether and how data will be shared; and where data will be deposited
- roles & responsibilities for managing, including succession plans
- ethical, legal and commercial constraints of the data
- methodological considerations that support or preclude data sharing
Researchers are encouraged to use standardized tools to develop their DMPs, such as the Portage Network’s DMP Assistant.
For more information on this, please contact ethics@centennialcollege.ca or Sowmya Kishore at skishore@centennialcollege.ca.
You are bound by the same privacy expectations as with face-to-face interactions. Use of web conferencing software has additional security issues such as the possibility of hacking or “zoom bombing”. No web conferencing software can be considered one hundred percent secure so this option should only be considered for low and moderate risk studies.
Any recordings must be with the explicit consent of the subject(s). The consent form should list the platform (software) being used and if a recording will be made. As with all human subject research data, recordings should be stored on a computer with password protection. Cloud-based recording options should not be used.
Researchers should also be aware that there is the possibility that the interviewee could be recording the session unbeknownst to the researcher. For additional information and links pls. see below:
- McMaster University’s Policy and Guidelines on videoconferencing
- Researching from a Distance: Using Live Web Conferencing to Mediate Data Collection by David Matthew Glassmeyer, Rebecca-Anne Dibbs
Yes. Resources available include the Government of Canada's COVID-19 Interpretations as well as additional resources from neighbouring academic institutions and experts.
Yes. Institutional approval is required for any research that proposes to use resources, data, programs and/or involve institutional members including Centennial College faculty, staff or students.
After obtaining Research Ethics Board approval, you must obtain institutional approval using the Institutional Approval Form before you start your research project. Approval is required from the departments and/or managers. Requests are typically processed in 5-10 business days.