Application process

graph AI-Generiert
  1. Decide which form of application you would like to submit:
    1. The usual form is "individual projects". If individual projects build on each other, the connection between the projects can be shown in the "Follow-up application" field.

      Simplified example of successive individual projects: An app is developed to make users laugh. To this end, interviews are conducted to find out what test subjects find funny and this is implemented in an app. The result is a functional app. (≙ Project 1) This app is now to be evaluated through feedback from various groups of test subjects. (≙ Project 2)

      Connection between project 1 and project 2: The study design of project 2 can only be assessed by the ethics committee if it is known what content is shown to the test subjects via the app. This only works once the functional app is available as a result. Project 2 is therefore an individual project and a follow-up project to Project 1.
    2. The term "study series" refers to projects that are made up of various individual projects, but whose results are not mutually dependent.

      Simplified example of a study series: A group of test subjects is to walk for five minutes and cycle for five minutes for sub-project 1, while their spatial vision is to be tested for sub-project 2. The results from both sub-studies are incorporated into the results of the study series. During the work on the study series, it becomes clear that the resting heart rate should also be recorded in order to improve the results of the study - an ethics application with the corresponding form is submitted for this additional sub-project.

      Connection of the sub-projects: The subprojects are independent of each other, i.e. none of the subprojects builds on the next; the results of all subprojects flow into an overall result.
  2. Check whether data protection regulations must be observed in your research project. (The "interactive Virtual Assistant" iVA 1 provides assistance.) If so, you will find further information below in the section "Data protection review for ethics applications".
  3. Complete the application form in full (do not forget to sign it!). Focus on describing the benefits and risks of your research project - both for the persons involved, society as a whole and the environment. Describe which ethical risks you (must) take and for what reasons in order to obtain the desired research results. Describe the research design of your project as specifically as possible ("application prose" should be avoided!); bear in mind that the members of the ethics committee may be unfamiliar with the subject and may therefore require more background information.
  4. Send the completed form and all other relevant documents (e.g. questionnaires, consent forms, subject information, etc.) in the form of individual PDFs by e-mail to kommission∂ethik.kit.edu by the deadline.

    Please note: Please also create PDF versions of documents that are only made available to participants online (e.g. online surveys). This will make file management and archiving easier.
  5. You will receive an application number from the person responsible for the organization and confirmation of the meeting in which your research project will be reviewed.
  6. You will usually receive the ethics vote by e-mail approximately one week after the meeting date. Please ensure that you fulfill any requirements as quickly as possible.