To think this won't get approved?

[idonthaveanyplans]

I'm in my final year at uni. My dissertation research was going to be the experiences of COVID-19 lockdown on individuals with alcohol use disorder in the UK.

I was planning on interviewing around 5-10 people with AUD and was planning on recruiting them through a platform that helped me when I first became sober (2 years sober now).

I have spent and excruciating amount of time on the ethics application and my supervisor said it's great but unlikely to be approved. She said number 1, it's really hard to get undergraduate research approved and number 2, very unlikely on my first attempt. And considering my dissertation is due in April, I won't have enough time to keep re-submitting.

Just looking for other experiences of this, has anyone had their undergraduate ethics application passed on the first attempt? The waiting is killing me cause I really don't know what I'll do if is not approved, I've planned it like this from 2nd year.

Should add I have had letters of support provided by the recruitment platform I plan on using as well as a strong letter of support from my supervisor who stated I was the most committed of her students this year.

I don't know what sort of department you're in, but I have had several undergrad students go through ethics applications with no troubles at all. It's not about the level of the researcher, it's about the soundness of the application, in terms of research ethics. They'll want to know things like how you'll deal with personal data, and if there's any risk to your subjects from your study, and if so, how that will be mitigated. As long as you cover all of the required points, you being an undergrad shouldn't be any barrier, especially since you'll have supervision. Has your supervisor said anything specific about what the problems with your application are?

@Trivium4all thank you for posting. No she said it's very good, we have went back and forth since September, strengthening it and making changes. I have made comment about the things you mentioned in your comment. For instance, I have created help sheets for all participants with extra support should they feel triggered. I have also wrote about how I will deal with my own emotions during the research process. We have went through everything with a fine tooth comb, there really isn't anything I could add to it. However, she just keeps saying 'I'll be really disappointed if this isn't approved as you've worked so hard but it's very unlikely due to you being an undergraduate' 😧 and it's ruined my Xmas break tbh because I just keep thinking of what else I can do and can't come up with much.

What sort of department are you in, as in, what's your field/degree subject?

Social sciences

I can’t comment on the approval but will offer some advice. If your application is submitted then push it aside. Worrying about it won’t help you at this point. Now you need to start working on your plan B, what will you need if your application is denied? Additional research? Interpretation of someone else’s study? (I really have no idea, so imagine I’ve inserted a bunch of great suggestions here).

You may end up not needing to use plan B, but you’ll feel a whole lot better knowing you’ve got one. Stop letting your advisor dooming your project . Shove the application in the back of your head and proceed like you never applied….