The Daily Bulletin Archive

An introductory workshop on the Institutional Review Board (IRB) review process and ethics training requirement will be held on Tuesday, November 7, from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. in Buckham Hall B-145.

Before the review process, researchers must be sure that their project is, in fact, research with human participants as defined by the federal government. To qualify as research with human participants, the following must be true: (1) The participants must be living. Thus, oral history projects fall under the guidelines, but research involving diaries kept in the 1800s does not. (2) The project is a systematic investigation; that is, it is designed to be a study. For example, instances in classrooms where teachers ask students’ opinions on the material to gauge progress are not research; however, if that same teacher designs a study to evaluate two methods of teaching the material to see which is more effective, this would be research if the third criterion is met. (3) The project is designed to contribute to the generalized knowledge. To qualify as research, the person conducting the project must intend for it to be disseminated at some level.

On our campus, we also review student projects that may not be disseminated but that meet the first two criteria so that our students will learn the process of research with human participants and because we have contracted with the federal government to do so.

We introduced the SUNY RF PACS modular system in January, and IRB was the first component to be activated at Buffalo State College. The IRB module provides a streamlined way for researchers to create and submit protocols for studies involving human subjects. It provides support for initial submissions, modifications, reportable new information, and continuing reviews.

RSVP to Gina Game, IRB administrator, by Thursday, November 2.