FAQs - What if...?
I want to do a study, which will involve me observing conversations in a cyber chat room. I will be observing the dialogue only, but will not participate. Do I still need IRB approval?
"Any systematic investigation that is designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge, and which involves living humans about whom an investigator obtains information through intervention or interaction or obtains identifiable private information about living humans, qualifies as human subjects research. " While some researchers may argue some cyber chat rooms are "public" space, still have an ethical and moral responsibility to the protection of human subjects. A study that will use existing data, whether public or private must still get human subjects approval. Privacy and autonomy are important principles to We will post more information and ethical guidelines regarding internet research as they are developed.
I am working on my thesis/dissertation and have complete access to everyone's records as part of my job. I want to use information gathered from their records and from asking them questions. Surely I don't have to follow the guidelines on account that I have complete access to these records, right?
Wrong. While your job duties may allow you full access to their records, you are not allowed to use information contained in their records or to gather information from them as a researcher without prior IRB approval and the consent of the subject. As a researcher you are still required to submit an IRB application along with the supporting documents for review prior to beginning your study.
I want to distribute some surveys to gather feedback on how to improve the services offered at the Student Health Services. Do I still need IRB approval?
If the information being gathered is not going to be published and will be used only to improve the services offered by your department, then you do not need IRB approval.
What if I carried out my research without IRB approval?
If you are conducting human subject research without IRB approval, you are in violation of Federal Regulations and subject to non-compliance reporting both to University officials as well as OHRP in Washington, D.C. You also put the University at risk of having its research privileges shut down. If the research is being done for a Master's Thesis or a Doctoral Dissertation, the Graduate School will require that you submit proof of IRB approval with your paper. If you didn't receive approval from the IRB prior to starting your project, you will not receive approval once it is completed.