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Undergraduate Psychology Student Participant Pool (UPSPP)

Procedures for the use of the UPSPP

This pool was established by the School of Psychology, Psychiatry and Psychological Medicine in the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences after consultation with the Monash University Human Research Ethics Committee (MUHREC) and the Faculty Undergraduate Education Committee.

Access to the UPSPP is strictly limited to academic staff in the School of Psychology, Psychiatry and Psychological Medicine (SPPPM) and their research students.

The pool was originally established for use in non-sensitive/contentious projects. "Sensitive research" involves projects likely to cause offence to individuals or groups of individuals (e.g. Indigenous Australians, ethnic or cultural groups), cause them distress or potentially put them at any disadvantage, e.g.;

  • sexual activities / attitudes
  • mental health related projects where some responses suggest a possible duty of care to participants (ie. May find depression or anxiety)
  • discomfort beyond the experience of everyday life
  • projects that may result in an assessment that some participants are at risk
  • anything requiring collection of student results
  • sensitive information like an individual's racial or ethnic origin, political views, religious beliefs, sexual preferences, membership of groups or criminal record

When projects of sensitive nature request the use of this pool, they are considered on a case by case basis and the following is required:

  1. Researchers are asked to provide justification for the use of the pool. MUHREC requires a paragraph supporting the use of the pool based on ethical grounds and what controls are in place to manage duty of care to participants.
  2. Director of Research, SPPPM to acknowledge and sign the application or Request for Amendment Form. The Forms now include additional space for signature for all applications seeking the use of this pool.

MUHREC will review the application and make a decision based on the above.

MUHREC will indicate to the researchers and student pool coordinator(s) if the following warning should be included before participants start the questionnaires:

"This project contains potentially sensitive questions. Some participants may find the questions and responses distressing. If you are concerned about any of your responses, please utilise the resources provided"

For further information about the UPSPP, please contact: