Every researcher is expected to adhere to the standards of good research (see ). Each researcher is therefore responsible for safeguarding the scientific integrity and ethical aspects of their own research. The VCWE helps with this by evaluating research protocols for ethical aspects and advising on the integrity and ethical aspects of the scientific research at the Faculty.
Before a researcher from the Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences (FGB) offers a research protocol to the VCWE, the researcher is advised to first study the code of ethics for research at the FGB This explains, for example, in which cases a research proposal must be submitted to the (METc), because the research falls under the Medical Research Act (; see also the ). In the event that the METc is only approached for a , it is recommended that if this non-WMO statement is granted, the research protocol is also submitted to the VCWE for ethical review. This ethical assessment is not carried out by the METc in the case of a non-WMO statement.
Before protocols can be submitted to the VCWE, a number of other matters must be settled, such as:
- A data management plan. A data management plan is not part of the research protocol that is to be submitted to the VCWE, but must be arranged by the researcher before the research protocol is submitted to the VCWE.
- Control of privacy according to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR): Privacy (see also ).
- Completing a privacy statement. The VCWE does not review or assess the privacy measures in research or the submitted privacy statement. The researcher is personally responsible for ensuring that all privacy-related matters are properly arranged before the research protocol is submitted to the VCWE. The privacy statement must be attached to the information letter or must be accessible via the project’s website. An example can be found here. For the most recent privacy statement template and questions regarding the privacy statement, please contact: research.data.fgb@vu.nl.
When submitting the study protocol to VCWE, the following should be noted:
- Applicants are strongly advised to use the VCWE Participant Information Letter Template:
- (EN)
- (EN)
- One (or more) Informed Consent Form(s) must be attached, urging the use of the VCWE template:
- (EN)
- (EN)
The study protocol, with the necessary attachments, can be submitted by completing the form online at the VCWE Editorial Manager:
When filling out the online form, keep a few things in mind:
- The application can only be submitted via the Editorial Manager by an employee (researcher) of FGB, not by students.
- Provide clear, complete and concise descriptions of the study in the form. It is helpful to attach a separate research proposal or research protocol, but it is not intended to be referenced in the form. The form itself must contain the information to test the protocol.
- For (student) projects it can be useful to prepare to fill in the form with and to copy and paste the text into the online form.
AMENDMENTS:
Amendments may be submitted to already approved proposals, under the condition that the proposal was approved no longer than 5 years ago. Amendments consist of relatively small additions or changes in the approved proposal. When larger changes are considered, such as changes in the research design or involvement of different, more vulnerable populations, a new proposal should be submitted for review.
CLUSTER PROPOSALS
In addition to submitting a proposal for one specific study, there is the option to submit proposals for lines of research involving a series of studies that typically involve research aims and complementary methods. We call such proposals “cluster proposals” (a term with an identical meaning is umbrella proposal).
Cluster proposals concern “lines of research” of individual researchers or research teams or groups. For example, there may be a research line focusing on broader topics such as “self-control in children”, “the genetics of happiness, ”Sensorimotor control in non-elite soccer players”, or “human cooperation”. The cluster proposals are similar to other proposals for individual studies, except that they provide information of the various methods and procedures that will be used in a particular line of research.
It also important to note that individual researchers can later submit amendments to an existing cluster proposal, even if they were not part of the original team that received positive advice about their cluster proposals. Note that, as always, any amendments’ duration is determined by the original proposal – that is, it is valid for five years after the positive advice regarding the original proposal.
Questions?
Email: vcwe.fgb@vu.nl
Summary:
Contact details
Chair: Prof.dr. P.A.M (Paul) van Lange
Secretary: dr. M. (Mariët) van Buuren
E-mail: vcwe.fgb@vu.nl
Huidige commissieleden
Dr. Anne Marije Kaag (vice-chair)
Dr. Nadia Dominici
Dr. Martin Gevonden
Dr. Jolanda Maas
Dr. Anders Schinkel
Dr. Jo de Ruiter
Dr. Marvin Neumann
Dr. Jan Willem Grijpma
Prof.dr. Wendy Scholten - Peeters
More background information