New research partnership: Ethics for field research on widening participation and student success

• UCLan will consult with relevant stakeholders to inform the project, ensuring that the remit, format, and structure of the final ethics guidance is fit for purpose. The stakeholders consulted will include: ethics committees, What Works Centres, WP/student success practitioners, evaluators and TASO advisory groups.
• UCLan will conduct a review of existing literature, knowledge, guidance and policies concerned with the ethics of implementing large-scale quantitative data collection and analysis; experimental and quasi-experimental research methods; administrative data set analysis; qualitative interviews; and focus groups.

“We are delighted to be working with TASO, and the wider sector, in developing specific guidance on research ethics. High-quality research into widening participation and student success is critical in supporting the opening up higher education to a diversity of learners.”

“We are excited to be working with UCLan on this timely and significant project. TASO recognises the importance of ensuring a clear and consistent approach to ethics across the sector, on both pre-entry and post-entry activities. We are seeking to support the sector with the development of accessible ethics guidance that covers the various research and evaluation methods being used in widening participation and student success. This is a crucial part of improving access and outcomes for all students in higher education, and underpinning these efforts with robust and ethical research.”