Institutional Review Board (IRB) for the Protection of Human Subjects

Any study that involves humans subjects probably needs to go before the IRB.

1.      Protect people involved in your study

·          Physical safety

·          Emotional safety

·          Understanding of rights

·          No false expectations

2.      Instructions and forms at http://www.uwlax.edu/provost/grants_contracts/regulations/irb.pdf

3.      Take tutorial at http://cme.nci.nih.gov

4.      Two levels of review

·          Exempt/Expedited

·          Full review

Most rec and tr research is expedited (because no physically invasive procedures), but there are exceptions

·          work with special populations, children, and incarcerated individuals

·          surveys or interviews where people’s identities are clear

5.      Informed consent for interviews

·          Use model, but personalize it for specific situation

6.      Survey instrument

·       Instrument must be designed an included for review

7.      Steps  (takes up to 1 month; can call Grants and Contracts 785-8488 for due dates)

·          Meet with advisor to discuss specific issues of your project

·          take IRB tutorial

·          write draft of report, complete with appendices (following guidelines exactly)

·          have advisor critique report

·          when ready, get signatures of advisor, chair, dean

·          Send appropriate number of copies (9 for expedited, 15 for full) to:

Office of Graduate Studies

145 Main Hall

·          Await initial decision of Board (expedite or full review). Full review involves interview with the IRB Committee (you and your advisor usually both attend)

5. Cannot conduct study until letter of approval.   (my experience has been that the Board asks for a few small changes, you make the changes, and Garth Tymeson (785-8153) or Bill Gresens (785-8488) okays the revisions and sends the letter)