The Sociology Department acknowledges the importance and relevance of well-defined and properly supported codes, protocols and standards to govern the ethics of research, including especially research – including most research conducted by sociologists – that involves human participants, either directly or through individually identifiable data collected by other researchers from and on human participants. We are committed to ensuring that research is subject to appropriate ethics review as well as deepening awareness of ethics matters among student and departmental researchers.

The Department also recognises that many major ethical challenges need to be considered on an ongoing basis, and not simply through the review of a prior research proposal. This is why the Department attaches considerable weight to its programme of deliberative activities alongside its clearance activity.  

Download the Sociology department's Procedures for Research Ethics Review here

Staff, students and visiting researchers can download the department's research ethics clearance application form here.

Please forward completed application forms and supporting documentation to the Postgraduate Administrator at the following email: soc-sociology@uct.ac.za  

Read the Faculty of Humanities' Research Ethics Guide.