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Whither survey research?

The challenges of undertaking postal surveys within the UK research governance framework

Centre for Health and Social Care Research, Sheffield Hallam University/Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Louise Guillaume, PhD, MSc, BA(Hons)

School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield

In April 2004 new requirements for research governance were introduced in England. In order to safeguard the interests of research participants, research involving NHS patients, their tissues or NHS staff has to be registered with each organisation from where data will be collected and authorisation obtained before the study can commence. NHS Trusts/Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) have set up individual mechanisms for research governance approval with the result that there are no standardised procedures or documentation.

Drawing upon data derived from making research governance applications for a postal survey involving nurses in 90 NHS Trusts/PCTs in seven strategic health authorities in England, this paper examines the implications of introducing research governance for this research method. An analysis of the application process, and the time and resources required suggests that undertaking survey research is increasingly problematic. Moreover, implications arising from the Data Protection Act and the need to complete commissioned research within contractual arrangements led to methodological compromises being made. Recommendations for changes in research governance policy are proposed, most notably the need to standardise procedures, provide greater clarification for R&D managers on the interpretation of research governance procedures and apportion the level of scrutiny according to risk.

Key Words: survey • questionnaire • research governance

Journal of Research in Nursing, Vol. 11, No. 6, 485-497 (2006)
DOI: 10.1177/1744987106068347


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