Standards

Research governance framework 

The Gambling Commission's Research Governance Framework.

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Published
30 April 2026

Last updated
30 April 2026 - Changes

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Contents

• Research governance framework 

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• Introduction
• • Research at the Gambling Commission
  • The Research Governance Framework
  • Developing and updating the research governance framework
• Ethical gambling research
• • Introduction to ethical gambling research
  • Core research principles and guidelines for ethical gambling research
  • Research involving AI
  • Conflicts of interest
  • Research misconduct
• Ethical approval for gambling research with human participants
• • Which projects require ethical approval
  • General considerations for ethical approval in gambling research
  • The ethical approval process
• The peer review process
• Roles and responsibilities
• Other external research involvement
• Research data governance
• • General principles of research data governance and research data safeguarding
  • What documents are required?
  • Data sharing
• Dissemination of research
• Monitoring, review and data corrections
• Appendices
• • Appendix 1: Ethics Checklist for projects requiring full Ethical Approval
  • Appendix 2: Data management plan checklist checklist
  • Appendix 3: Peer review checklist
  • Appendix 4: Research misconduct

2.1 - Introduction to ethical gambling research

We are committed to ethical research practices that promote a safe research environment where everyone involved is treated fairly and with respect. We believe that gambling research should maximise the benefits for individuals and society and minimise potential risks and harms. All researchers involved in a research project should ensure that co-production, collaboration or participant and stakeholder involvement in research meets and adheres to appropriate methodology and ethical frameworks, with considerations for responsibility, accountability, transparency, respect, expectations, management and sharing or use of the research.

Our gambling research should therefore comply with ethical requirements and other applicable guidelines such as:

• UKRI’s key principles of ethical research (opens in new tab)
• Preventing harm (safeguarding) in research and innovation policy (opens in new tab)
• Government Social Research guidelines (opens in new tab)
• Ethical Research Involving Children (ERIC) guidelines (opens in new tab)
• Ethical considerations associated with Qualitative Research methods – UK Statistics Authority (opens in new tab)
• Code of Conduct at the Market Research Society(opens in new tab)

Next section
Core research principles and guidelines for ethical gambling research

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Last updated: 30 April 2026

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