The following types of research do not require ethical review.
- Data that is in public domain unless it is defamatory and republication will place the University at risk of civil action.
- Research that is of negligible risk and involves the use of data in historical documents, records, pathological and diagnostic specimens (that is, data already existing and not extracted, removed from subjects, or obtained specifically for and during the conduct of the research) does not require review provided that appropriate gate-keeper approval has been obtained and personal or identifying information purged from the data set.
- Pure observation is usually non-invasive and commonly requires no contact with subjects (such as standing on a footpath or other public venue, recording the actions of passers-by), and as such do not require ethical review. Public behaviour is human action which occurs in a forum open to the general public, but recording is subject to Federal and State legal positions on privacy.
Ethical review will be necessary if subjects are identifiable either by name, or by other identifiers (eg facial photographs) that are intrinsic to the data, or if the disclosure of recorded observations places the subjects at risk or harm or social stigma or legal prosecution.
