WHAT IS THE IRB?

The Southwestern University Institutional Review Board for Human Research (IRB) has been established to approve research projects involving the use of human participants. The Board exists both because Southwestern wants to ensure that research participants are treated with the utmost respect and safety and because federal law requires that all federally-funded research involving human participants receive IRB approval. Committee Members for 2008-2009 include Sherry Adrian (Chair), Department of Education; Paula Desmond (Fall only), Department of Psychology; Linda Southwick, Department of Biology; Miguel Benavides, Department of Kinesiology/Athletics; Alicia Betsinger (Officer, Ex-Officio), Director of Institutional Research; and one member outside the SU community (T.B.A.).

WHO MUST SUBMIT THEIR PROJECTS FOR IRB APPROVAL?

Other than the three exceptions listed below, anyone conducting academic or administrative research with human participants (including research where human tissues or cells will be collected or analyzed) must submit proposals to the IRB. For IRB purposes, research projects include not only standard faculty research but also class research projects, service-learning projects, student-led independent studies and capstone research, and administrative research. Examples of research methodologies include (but are not limited to) experiments, surveys, questionnaires, interviews, participant/informant observations, interventions, and program evaluations.

EXCEPTIONS

• On-campus “user surveys” do NOT need to be submitted for IRB review provided that (a) the information collected is for the express purpose of understanding and/or improving service delivery, (b) the surveys do not contain questions of a personal or sensitive nature, and (c) they are anonymous (i.e., no identifying information is collected). Examples would include a brief questionnaire to assess student opinions following a first-year orientation event, or a survey that assesses Robertson Center visitors’ use of equipment.

• Project involving naturalistic observation of public behavior do NOT need to be submitted for IRB review as long as the observations are conducted in a setting in which privacy is not normally expected and the student’s safety is not a concern. An example would include students in a research methods class who are asked to test hypotheses using naturalistic observation of people on or off campus (e.g., by recording whether male or female Starbucks’ customers are more likely to order full-fat or low-fat versions of a beverage).

• In-class demonstrations do NOT need to be submitted for IRB review if data are collected from students enrolled in a course for the purpose of demonstrating course concepts or research methodology. In such cases, the demonstration is conducted in the context of the class, the risks are known to be minimal, and the data will not be published or disseminated outside of class. If students are enrolled in a research methods course, they may be required to participate if their participation is an essential component of course pedagogy (in which case the syllabus must alert students to this fact, and students’ enrollment in the course would constitute their consent to participate). In other classes, students should be given the option to not participate or to participate in an alternate assignment if they so desire.
  

WHICH FORM DO I SUBMIT?

Most research projects will require the Full Research Proposal form; however, in some cases professors can seek “blanket” approval for class research projects based on a generic description of topics and/or methods that the professor will subsequently allow students to pursue. Class projects that meet all of the criteria listed below can be submitted for review using the Class Project Proposal form.

Requirements for Class Project Proposal (note that ALL criteria must be met)

If any of the above criteria are not met, you must submit the Full Research Proposal form.

WHEN AND WHERE DO I SUBMIT MY IRB FORM?

Submit your research proposal as an attached Word file to IRB@southwestern.edu. Please see the posted schedule (click here) for deadlines and review dates for the semester. In exceptional circumstances, quicker review time may be possible for faculty and staff projects. (Please discuss such requests with the Director of Institutional Research and/or the Chair of the IRB).

WHEN AND HOW WILL I BE NOTIFIED OF MY DECISION?

The IRB will provide a written statement of the results of its review, including any reasons for requested modifications or for disapproval of the project. You can expect to receive email notification within a few days of the review meeting posted on the schedule. Please do not begin collecting your data until you receive the approval of the IRB.

WHAT IF I STILL HAVE QUESTIONS?

If you have questions about how to complete the form, are unsure of which form to use, or are unsure about whether your project requires submission, please contact the chair of the IRB, Sherry Adrian at ext. 1905 or via email (adrians@southwestern.edu).