Data Requiring Ethics Review

The first two criteria for determining whether ethics review is required are:

• the information being gathered is not in the public domain, and
• the information being gathered involves human beings.

Any activity that involves gathering information from humans, including:

• interviews with individuals from an organization,
• surveys or questionnaires,
• asking for opinions, and
• review of private company documents.

Examples of the types of activities that require ethics review include:

• face-to-face interviews,
• telephone interviews,
• asking questions through e-mail,
• telephone surveys of public opinion,
• written surveys or questionnaires,
• requesting copies of e-mail correspondence,
• development of case studies,
• review of private company documents
• request for copies of internal correspondence, and
• request for copies of strategic plans.