Writing & StyleStyle guide

Ethical Considerations Section

The University of Manchester’s research-proposal guidance instructs applicants to identify and address potential ethical considerations in the proposed research. This is broader than a journal-style Ethics Statement that reports formal approval or waiver after review; exact requirements depend on institution, jurisdiction, funder, discipline, participants, and publisher.

Quick answer

An Ethical Considerations section explains foreseeable ethical issues in the study design and how the project will address them, such as consent, privacy, risk, power, confidentiality, data handling, or other field-specific concerns when relevant.

Key details

Core IssueThe University of Manchester’s research-proposal guidance instructs applicants to identify and address potential ethical considerations in the proposed research.
Registerscholarly, professional, or research/report writing

Important caveats

Scope Boundary

This is broader than a journal-style Ethics Statement that reports formal approval or waiver after review; exact requirements depend on institution, jurisdiction, funder, discipline, participants, and publisher.

Further guidance

Content

Identify the issues created by the actual design and explain the safeguards or approval process that applies; avoid copying a generic checklist that is unrelated to the study.

Purpose

An Ethical Considerations section explains foreseeable ethical issues in the study design and how the project will address them, such as consent, privacy, risk, power, confidentiality, data handling, or other field-specific concerns when relevant.

Sources and evidence

Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.

  1. Writing your proposal — School of Social Sciences (opens in a new tab)The University of Manchester · University proposal guidance requiring applicants to identify and address potential ethical considerations in the proposed research.

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