Do I need ethics approval for secondary research?

Researchers conducting research or analysis of an existing dataset (i.e. primary data) is considered secondary research. Primary data could comprise of previously collected data (from an earlier study), or data transferred by a collaborator (from an earlier study), or already published in data repositories, or student/ medical records.

Secondary research is usually non-interventional in nature, as new data is not collected from participants. Despite this, secondary research involving the use of identifiable data falls under the scope of Singapore's PDPA and HBRA, hence IRB approval is required. (Refer to IRB's purview here.)

Researchers should also note that journals/publishers* often require ethics approvals for secondary research. Hence, researchers are advised to obtain ethics approvals prior to your secondary research as retrospective reviews and approvals will not be provided. (Refer to our guidance on journals/publishers requiring ethics approvals here.)

* NTU is a member of the international Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), and adheres to international best practices on publication and research ethics. Please refer to COPE's case example 1, example 2. and example 3.     

​