Preventing harm in research (safeguarding)

Report a concern

If you or someone else has come to harm through a research project, or you are concerned for the safety of yourself or others, you can raise a concern to: research-safeguarding@bristol.ac.uk

Staff members who wish to discuss a concern, in confidence, can contact a Stand Up Speak Out Advocate.

Students who need more information regarding complaints can refer to the Students' Union's Complaints Support pages.

Definition of harm

The University of Bristol is committed to protecting the safety and wellbeing of all those involved with research projects conducted by the University, its staff and/or agents working on its behalf.

This includes events falling within the UKCDR definition of:

any sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment of research participants, communities and research staff, plus any broader forms of violence, exploitation and abuse relevant to research such as bullying, psychological abuse and/or physical violence

Individuals and organisations conducting research need to be alert to the broad range of harm that might arise from research activities and the measures that need to be taken to prevent foreseeable harm, to thoroughly investigate any report of harm caused as a result of research activity, to support those who have come to harm and to take appropriate action against anyone found to have caused harm.

Examples of harm

Harm caused by one researcher to another

An example would be: one researcher bullying, harassing or assaulting another. The risk of this could be increased by a lack of support structures or by an imbalance of power.

Harm caused by a researcher to a research participant

In the worst cases this might mean a researcher abusing their position and harassing or taking advantage of a participant.

It could mean harm caused by negligence in the conduct of research, such as insensitive questioning regarding a traumatic subject. It could mean harm in the handling of information, such as carelessly revealing someone's participation in a study regarding a personal subject. It could mean partial deception or incomplete disclosure that may not be sufficiently justified and explained to participants in the debrief, where a participant may feel they took part and provided responses under false pretences.

Harm caused by a research project, or those involved with it, to a community

A community could be any group bound by a variety of things, such as location, beliefs, a common experience, a shared interest or self-identity, etc.

Harm might be caused by an insensitive approach and/or lack of follow-up, particularly with frequently researched groups, leading to a sense of de-humanisation; or by asking individuals to speak for the whole, without a general consensus, potentially leading to division, fears of misrepresentation or feelings of betrayal.

Harm caused by a research participant to a researcher

In order to maintain confidentiality or to gain a subjects confidence, or simply due to limited resource, it may be necessary for a researcher to meet alone with a research participant, who will likely be a stranger to them. In such circumstances we need to consider the risks of investigators suffering physical or psychological harm.

Harm suffered by a researcher as a result of the nature of their work

Researchers may be at risk of physical harm if research requires that they travel to dangerous environments. Researchers may also be at risk of psychological harm, or secondary trauma, when investigating traumatic or disturbing subjects. Mitigation needs to be considered in research design and conduct, to minimise these risks.

Researchers may be put at risk if they are citizens of a country where certain research topics are discouraged or illegal. Researchers and academic supervisors should consider these risks during the design and conduct of projects.

Such harm is a serious matter and the University has policies in place to manage the reporting, investigation and resolution of these occurrences.

Policies and processes

Read UoB policies and processes that govern the reporting, investigation and resolution of research harm cases.

Study design resources

A variety of related resources are available within and outside the University.