Human Research Ethics Online Training

It includes any research in which human beings:

• take part in surveys, interviews or focus groups; 
• undergo psychological, physiological or medical testing or treatment; 
• are observed by researchers; 
• researchers have access to their personal documents or other materials; 
• the collection and use of body organs, tissues or fluids (e.g. skin, blood, urine, saliva, teeth, hair, bones, tumour and other biopsy specimens) or their exhaled breath; 
• access to their information (in individually identifiable, re-identifiable or non-identifiable form) as part of any existing published or unpublished source or database.

Reference: The text above is adapted almost word for word from the Australian National Statement p.8

Cartoon by Paul Mason. According to the Australian National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (henceforth referred to simply as the "Australian National Statement"), human research is any investigation that is conducted with people, about people, on tissue from people, or using data concerning people.