Stories
Enriching research at CMU through cross-disciplinary inquiry and process
Part of the CMU Research Month series
Lee-Anne Dowsett is Associate Professor of Music Therapy, Affiliate Faculty of Experiential Learning and the Chair of the Research Ethics Board at CMU. “The cross-disciplinary work and dialogue that CMU is really great at shows in our REB work and research.”
For many researchers, ethics review is seen as a required step before a project can begin. At CMU, ethics review reflects a broader commitment to thoughtful scholarship, meaningful dialogue, and respect for the people at the centre of research. It is a cornerstone in the foundation of the institution's identity.
Lee-Anne Dowsett, Chair of the CMU Research Ethics Board (REB) sees ethics review as an opportunity to make the research that happens at CMU stronger.
"There's kind of a misunderstanding that REBs are really tough to get through or that it's just a hurdle you must get through," says Dowsett, Associate Professor of Music Therapy and Affiliate Faculty of Experiential Learning. "But having worked on this REB for several years, our team has really diverse and great perspectives. We may change their lens a bit on how they're going to approach the research or give them ideas about how to make the research stronger."
During Research Month, CMU celebrated the many ways faculty and students contribute new knowledge through research. Behind almost any research project involving human participants is the Research Ethics Board, a cross-disciplinary group that helps ensure research involving human participants is conducted responsibly, respectfully, and with integrity.
Unlike larger universities, which often have separate ethics boards for different disciplines, the Research Ethics Board at CMU reviews projects from across the institution. A project in music therapy may be considered alongside research in psychology, political studies, biology, or theology. That diversity of perspectives creates opportunities for richer conversations and stronger research. It also reflects the commitment of CMU to dialogue across disciplines, where different ways of knowing and understanding the world are brought into conversation with one another.
"The cross-disciplinary work and dialogue that CMU is realty great at, shows in our REB work and research," Dowsett says.
Before a project begins, researchers submit an application outlining their goals, who will be involved, what data will be collected, and how participant confidentiality will be protected. Applications may also include consent forms, interview guides, recruitment materials, and other research tools.
But the review process goes beyond identifying potential risks.
One of the REB's most important roles is helping researchers think carefully about who is represented in their work, and whose perspectives might be missing and whether the research reflects the participants in an authentic and meaningful way.
"Sometimes there could be questions from the board like, why is the scope limited to only these types of participants, and is there a way for it to include additional inputs," Dowsett says.
Those conversations often help researchers broaden their thinking and strengthen their projects before they begin collecting data.
"We want to do justice, and we want to make sure we're giving the researchers good feedback on their proposals and that we've thought through any of the possible issues, risks, or ethical concerns." For Dowsett, ethical research is not simply about avoiding harm. It is about approaching research with humility, care, and responsibility toward the communities involved.
Dowsett says that research at CMU has grown significantly during her time at the university. The board receives more submissions each year, reflecting increased support and encouragement for faculty and student research and a growing culture of inquiry across campus, in no small part due to the development of the research office, in pursuing new projects.
"We receive more submissions each year, and I think that is fantastic," she says.
As research activity continues to expand at CMU, the work of the Research Ethics Board remains rooted in a simple idea: meaningful research is not only about discovering new knowledge, but about pursuing it with curiosity, care, and respect for the people it impacts.
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