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Research at UEL
At UEL, we deliver high impact projects from a dynamic exciting research environment.
Our research is all about people, change and making the world a better place. Our academics come together with expertise and perspectives from different backgrounds, experiences and fields of study to strive towards a happier, healthier future.
The internet has turned the world on its head. We are more connected than we’ve ever been but as we connect more, we also connect differently. Our academics are studying ways to make the internet safer, use new connections to protect the vulnerable and support diverse voices online, on stage, in healthcare and wherever else we can.
Without our precious planet, we are lost. At UEL, we are rebuilding the way we think about how we protect our planet from the ground up. From the smallest bee-friendly garden or green roof to the largest computer networks and vast peatlands, we see sustainability as an essential responsibility.
Health is more than an occasional visit to the doctor. Our academics explore health and wellbeing as a part of a bigger picture of equality, education and daily life. We work closely with communities to uncover their needs and develop solutions which are suited to them. We believe strongly in the power of people to make changes in their own communities.
Research Ethics Handbook
Our Research Ethics Handbook ensures that research projects at the University of East London are conducted according to appropriate ethical, legal, and professional frameworks, obligations and standards.
The handbook outlines the University’s expected standards for good research practice and compliance and provides guiding principles and standards to assist all student, academic and staff researchers when completing applications for ethical approval.
The core principles and values of conducting high quality research should be understood and upheld by all researchers. Striving for research excellence and engaging with the practical, ethical and intellectual challenges inherent in research, are essential to support a culture of research integrity and good research practice, amongst the research community and its stakeholders.
The Research Ethics handbook includes information on:
- Ethics by Design - at the planning stage of a research project, researchers should consider the ethical implications of the project, e.g., recruitment of participants, permissions that may be required and the location of the project
- Applying for ethical approval – practical advice on how to complete an ethics application form for research projects that involve human participants, or personal, or sensitive data
- Creating recruitment documents for participants e.g., a Participant Information Sheet and Consent Form
- Guidance on how to compile essential documents such as a gatekeeper permission request letter, debrief sheet and confidentiality agreement
- Using social media for data collection for research projects
- Compiling a risk assessment, including overseas risk assessments
- Data protection and data management
- Useful links to legal regulations, organisations and professional bodies and UEL policies and UEL departments.
Research integrity and ethics
San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA): UEL’s commitments
The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA) was established in order to foster a culture of best practice in research assessment. It advocates:
- Moving away from the use of journal-based metrics, such as Impact Factors to assess research and researchers
- A holistic evaluation of research and the consideration of diverse contributions beyond publications.
DORA aligns with principles outlined in the highly influential Metric Tide report, i.e.:
- Robustness
- Humility
- Transparency
- Diversity
- Reflexivity
UEL became a DORA signatory in 2021. By endorsing DORA, we contribute to a cultural shift in research evaluation, prioritizing the integrity and impact of scholarly contributions. This commitment aligns with our dedication to a research assessment system that embodies true academic excellence.
As a DORA signatory, UEL is committed to upholding the ethos of transparent and unbiased evaluation of research, inclusive of a sensitive, nuanced and non-prejudicial approach to using bibliometric data. Our commitment includes:
- The avoidance of using Journal-Based Metrics: UEL refrains from using metrics such as Journal Impact Factor as a proxy for quality, thus, the content of a paper is much more important than publication metrics or the identity of the journal in which it was published.
- Transparent Evaluation Criteria: We explicitly define and communicate criteria for hiring, tenure, promotion, and research assessment.
- Comprehensive Research Assessment: UEL evaluates the value and impact of all research outputs, including datasets and software, employing a broad range of impact measures.
In accordance with this, we have issued a Responsible Use of Research Metrics statement. Further information regarding RURM is given below.
The Responsible Use of Research Metrics Statement in the context of DORA
In support of our DORA commitments, UEL has implemented a Responsible Use of Research Metrics (RURM) statement. Focussing on the responsible use of quantitative data and indicators the RURM statement outlines the set of principles by which research evaluation and assessment is conducted at UEL.
University of East London Responsible Use of Research Metrics Statement
Responsible metrics involve appropriate use of quantitative indicators in research governance, management, and assessment. The University of East London encourages the use of “responsible metrics”, defined in the HEFCE commissioned report ‘The Metric Tide’, as a framework for evaluating our research activities.
Aligning with the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA) and principles from the Metric Tide report, along with guidance from key funders like UKRI and Wellcome Trust, the following principles guide the practical use of quantitative metrics at UEL to assess research performance, ensuring integrity, fairness, and transparency in the process.
Guiding Principles
Robustness
- Metrics at UEL will be accurate and comprehensive, noting limitations when applicable. Research metrics should be applied at the appropriate level of granularity e.g. journal level metrics will not be used to infer individual article quality.
Humility
- Metrics will complement, not replace, expert assessment and peer review.
Transparency
- Assessment criteria and quantitative data will be transparent and accessible so that those being assessed can test and verify the results.
Diversity
- Disciplinary differences will be considered, and biases in indicators acknowledged and addressed. Equality, diversity, and inclusion will be prioritised, and research assessment activities will be adapted to the scale of research, balancing objectivity, and subjectivity.
Reflexivity
- Potential systemic effects of metrics usage will be recognised and addressed promptly in response.
References:
Wilsdon, J., et al. (2015). The Metric Tide: Report of the Independent Review of the Role of Metrics in Research Assessment and Management. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.1.4929.1363
The Concordat to Support Research Integrity 2019
The University of East London is a signatory of The Concordat to Support Research Integrity, 2019, and adheres to the principles and commitments of the Concordat, to maintain the highest standards of rigour and integrity in all aspects of research, and ensure that research projects are conducted according to appropriate ethical, legal, regulatory and professional frameworks, obligations and standards.
The five commitments of the Concordat are to:
- uphold the highest standards of rigour and integrity in all aspects of research.
- ensure that research is conducted according to appropriate ethical, legal and professional frameworks, obligations and standards.
- support a research environment that is underpinned by a culture of integrity and based on good governance, best practice, and support for the development of researchers.
- use transparent, timely, robust and fair processes to handle allegations of research misconduct when they arise.
- work together to strengthen the integrity of research.
The University’s Codes of Practices, policies, procedures and frameworks define the expected standards, behaviours and professional responsibilities for researchers, and compliance with statutory and regulatory bodies and funders of research. The University works together with its researchers to ensure that the core principles and responsibilities of conducting high quality research are understood and upheld, ensuring that where necessary appropriate safeguards are in place, promoting good governance and best practice in research, and encouraging and supporting the development of researchers.
The Singapore Statement on Research Integrity states that ‘Whilst there can be and are national and disciplinary differences in the way that research is organized and conducted, there are also principles and professional responsibilities that are fundamental to the integrity of the research wherever it is undertaken’.
The University recognises the nuances of different disciplines and their norms; however, the principles and standards of research integrity and ethical practice, must be adhered to by all researchers to maintain a thriving research environment, strengthen good research practice and prevent misconduct in research.
The University’s research ethics committees provide a rigorous review of proposed research projects, in accordance with its processes, to ensure that the ethical considerations in each study have been identified and addressed. As such, researchers should engage with the core elements of the Concordat, in all aspects of research. Namely, rigour in line with disciplinary norms and standards, honesty in all aspects of research, care and respect for the well-being of all participants, contributors, users and beneficiaries of the research, accountability and transparency in the conduct of the research, and reporting and publishing the findings of the project.
Research data management is part of the research process concerning the organisation, storage, preservation, and sharing of data collected during a project. Additionally, effective data management supports the integrity and quality of research: UEL Research Data Management. The University’s Library, Archives and Learning Services (LALS) provides guidance, support and training on research data management.
Research projects should comply with all applicable laws and statutes relevant to the execution of the research. Where the location of the research project is outside of the UK, researchers should ensure that the study conforms to local, national and institutional laws, regulations, standards, practices and the expectations of research and research ethics that would normally apply.
It is imperative that researchers comply with all legal, ethical, regulatory and funding bodies’ regulations, professional obligations and organisational requirements for the collection, use and storage of data, including personal data. Researchers must abide by the principles of the Data Protection Act, 2018 and UK General Data Protection Regulation policy, 2018. More information can be found on the University’s data protection policy webpage.
The potential to cause harm to the well-being of research participants should be considered in all research projects. Researchers should be mindful of affecting the welfare of participants through physical harm, psychological or emotional distress, or damage to the values, dignity or reputation of the participant. A research risk assessment form should be completed for research projects to identify, assess and evaluate any risks, and develop and employ protocols or practices to mitigate any negative consequences for participants, as an outcome of the study.
The University nurtures a research community marked by a strong culture of integrity, providing support and guidance to its researchers, to sustain a vital and ethical research environment. In accordance with the Concordat, UEL has a clear, robust, fair and transparent Staff and Student Misconduct in Research procedure which specifies the obligations, principles and benchmarks that researchers must uphold in their research pursuits. The University has a ‘Named Person’ and a nominated alternative to act in their absence, to investigate allegations of misconduct in research, which are investigated thoroughly, fairly and in a timely manner.
The University produces an Annual Statement of activities undertaken to support and strengthen understanding and application of research integrity at the University. UEL is committed to regularly reviewing policies, procedures, practices and systems, raising the awareness of those engaging in research to understand UEL’s expected standards, and their obligations and responsibilities to conduct their research projects to the highest standards of rigour and integrity.
1.4m
UEL has received over £1.4million in research funding to study youth cybercrime and child online harms in the UK, EU and Africa since 2020
3.2m
The Baby Dev Lab has received £3.2 million in external funding since 2019, from funders including the European Research Council
8000
UEL researchers conducted the largest survey of youth cybercrime in the EU ever undertaken with 8000 respondents in 8 countries
Our Research Centres
We believe that the best research happens when people work together. Our research institutes are specialised hubs of experts.
SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN ONLINE FROM HARM - PROFESSOR JULIA DAVIDSON OBE
This research has led to several impacts including: influencing online harm policies, internet service regulation and the development of the UK Safety Tech Sector; and development of a child online protection policy and five-year implementation plan in Rwanda.
As part of our 2028 vision for the University, we have founded new collaborative cross-school, multidisciplinary research centres to tackle the big issues. We also have smaller dedicated research groups within schools for focused research and study.
Research Institutes
Sustainability Research Institute (SRI)
UEL's centre of excellence for environmental research and development
Explore the SRI
Institute for Connected Communities
The ICC puts online and offline communities at the heart of our research.
Explore the ICC
Rix Research & Media
Helping people with learning disabilities to realise the benefits that digital can bring.
Read moreResearch Excellence
We would like to thank the 238 researchers who contributed to our 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF) submission. Our academics are committed to high quality research which is why 92% of UEL's overall research was distinguished as world-leading, internationally excellent or internationally recognised.