Whilst restrictions in many places have largely eased up, researchers should, nevertheless, give consideration to any safety measures they should put in place due to Covid19, especially given that some participants may be vulnerable due to underlying health reasons. Therefore, we encourage researchers to conduct their data collection online where this is possible and feasible (see links to guidance below). Where this is not possible or appropriate, researchers should specify in their ethics review what measures they will put in place in order to do so safely. Best practice remains wearing masks, testing before any meetings, conducting these, wherever possible, outside or in a ventilated environment, etc. Additional measures may be required if the researcher will be working with participants who may be particulalry vulnerable.
Overseas fieldwork: researchers planning to conduct any fieldwork overseas – either by themselves or via local research assistants/enumerators, etc., and regardless of whether or not any travel will be involved - must contact the Health and Safety team to ascertain whether a risk assessment is required. Note that any travel for fieldwork to high-risk countries requires approval by SMC. Overseas research that is considered to be high risk or contentious may also be referred to SMC. Please see the latest information on travel here. If you have any questions relating to travel or the risk assessment process, please contact the Health and Safety team.
For any queries relating to ethics review/approval please contact Lyn Grove via research.ethics@lse.ac.uk.
Guidance on conducting primary research online
Click here for the guidance for researchers
Click here for the guidance for taught master's students