1. All researchers involved in the study (principal investigator, research student, research assistant) must sign the form and hold a valid CITI certificate.
2. The research summary should be a single, clearly written paragraph, easily accessible by researchers across the various fields within the humanities.
3. Description of participants and the population from which they will be selected: This section ensures voluntary participation, the absence of power dynamics, and respect for participant autonomy. If participants are recruited through an advertisement, please attach the ad to your submission.
4. The selection process must protect participant privacy. For example, it should not involve collecting information that individuals may be reluctant to share, such as sexual orientation, political affiliation, or a history of mental health issues.
5. Data collection procedure: Indicate who will be conducting the research (principal investigator, research assistant, student). If research assistants will be conducting interviews, confirm that they are properly trained. The interview process must also protect participants’ privacy. If using a questionnaire, attach it. For open-ended interviews, include a sample set of guiding questions that reflect
the goals of the study, while allowing flexibility for follow-up questions during the interview.
6. Although risks in humanities research are generally low, they should still be acknowledged. These may include inconvenience due to time commitment, emotional discomfort from recalling negative experiences, or even the resurfacing of traumatic memories.
7. To minimize risk, participants should be clearly informed that they may skip any question or end the interview at any time. In the case of online questionnaires, the platform must allow respondents to skip questions if they prefer to complete only part of the survey. If the research may trigger anxiety or trauma, researchers should be prepared to offer referrals to appropriate support services (such as centers for survivors of sexual assault), thereby reducing risk.
8. The potential benefit of the research may be concrete—for example, informing public policy—or more abstract, such as contributing to human knowledge or deepening understanding of a particular community's history.
9. Any risk to participants must be proportionate to the anticipated benefit of their involvement. This is particularly relevant in cases such as interviews with trauma survivors, where the goal is to improve care and treatment. This section should include an honest assessment of the potential contribution of the research in relation to the level of risk.
10. These items relate to safeguarding participant confidentiality—for example, by using pseudonyms or altering identifying details. They also address how research materials are handled: from collection and storage on personal devices to transcription and publication.
11. Participant compensation: If participants will receive payment, this must be clearly indicated in the informed consent form.
12. Informed consent must be obtained by someone involved in the research who is able to explain the study, answer questions from participants, or refer them to a senior researcher if needed.
13. The informed consent form to be used in the study should be attached. Detailed instructions for drafting the form appear on the final page of the application. In certain cases—such as when participants are unable to read and write, or when signing a form could put them at risk—a written consent form may not be appropriate. In such instances, the explanation of the study and interview process should be recorded (typically at the beginning of the interview), and the script of that explanation must be submitted in writing to the Committee.
- Appendix – General Guidelines for Preparing an Informed Consent Form
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All research involving human participants must include an informed consent form, to be signed by participants prior to their involvement in the study. The form should include the following components:
1. A clear description of the purpose of the study
2. An overview of the procedures involved
3. An estimate of the time required for participation and the overall duration of the study
4. A description of any potential risks associated with participation
5. A description of any potential benefits resulting from the research
6. An explanation of how confidentiality will be maintained, including protection of participants’ identities and personal information
7. A statement affirming participants’ right to withdraw from the study at any time without penalty
8. A clarification that participation is entirely voluntary
9. An explanation of additional protections in place for vulnerable populations, if applicable
10. Contact information for the principal investigator
11. Contact information for support services in case of harm or discomfort resulting from participation
12. For questionnaires, include the following statement:
“This questionnaire is anonymous and part of a research study. Declining to participate is expressed by not completing the questionnaire. You may choose to answer only some of the questions.”Please Note:
- Requests submitted after the research has been completed will not be reviewed.
- Requests that do not follow submission guidelines will not be considered. Thesis and dissertation proposals should not be submitted.
- Requests submitted without the signature of the principal investigator/supervisor will not be reviewed.
- Requests submitted without a valid ethics training certificate will not be reviewed.
- For revised submissions, additions should be highlighted in yellow and deletions in green.
- Ethics approvals issued by the university’s committees do not replace approval from the Chief Scientist of the Ministry of Education. It is the researcher’s responsibility to obtain this approval.
For questions or assistance in completing the form, please contact the chair of the Humanities Ethics Committee: Prof. Ori Eyal.