While the TCPS presumes that Masters or Doctoral thesis projects qualify as research, there is no such presumption for undergraduate projects, such as Arts and Social Science or other Honours theses or Capstone projects and it is often uncertain whether such a project requires REB Review. 

In such cases, seeks to determine whether there appears to be a primary research intent, that is an intention to create new knowledge.  Does the project appear to have a primary intention to train or teach research methods and skills, or is there a genuine intent to generate new information, of potential significance to the relevant scientific or scholarly community?   In addition, does the project meet relevant scholarly or scientific methodological standards, such that the project “…is conducted with the expectation that the method, results, and conclusions will be able to withstand the scrutiny of the relevant research community.” Relevant questions would be: Is the data collection systematic?  Are the sample size and other elements of the methodology rigourous enough to potentially yield broadly useful findings?  Would the elements of the study satisfy a reasonable body of scientists or scholars in the field as to the project’s credibility and validity? 

Yes, with ethics approval. Instructors may want their students to conduct small research projects for pedagogical reasons.

Note: See the Course Ethics Application under the Forms and Templates section for detailed instructions on how to submit.

Yes. For educational purposes, all honours students must submit an ethics application for their thesis, including for anonymous archival research. In addition, honours students must include a copy of their ethics clearance certificate, which includes the study reference number, when they submit their thesis. Honours students whose theses are part of an approved program of research for the current academic year only need to submit a copy of the ethics approval certificate with their thesis and need not apply for separate ethics approval for their thesis.

No. In the case of graduate theses, it is necessary to have the prospectus completed and approved before the ethics application is submitted in order to avoid premature and repeated evaluation of the project by the REB.