Ethics Committee

The Ethics Committee of the Faculties of Humanities and Archaeology gives binding advice on ethical issues in research. Not every project requires formal review by the committee, but projects for which this is required may not start data collection before the committee has given her approval.

Use the flowchart to determine whether your research needs to be presented to the committee for review. Are you still unsure, or would you like to receive advice even if your research does not require review? Contact the secretary of the committee at ethics@hum.leidenuniv.nl.

Best practices are a moving target. The ethics committee is composed of as broad a range of disciplines and methodologies as possible, but does not purport to be the final authority on what constitutes ‘ethical research’. It aims to advise, prompt reflection, and provide guard rails, but also to learn from every project it reviews. An approval letter from the ethics committee likewise does not give carte blanche: the moral responsibility for minimising harm and sharing benefits lies with the researcher.