Classroom Projects

The vast majority of classroom and service-learning projects don't involve data collection or research. However, occasionally, a project that you are designing for the classroom may fall under the definition of research with human subjects. Generally, if the data collected contributes to new knowledge, is published, presented, or sent to another organization (information goes beyond the classroom) then it is necessary to follow the Institutional Review Board (IRB) procedures. The following is meant as a guide to help determine if your project needs to be reviewed by the IRB.

Are Human Subjects Involved?
A human subject is any living individual about whom an investigator (whether professional or student) conducting research obtains:

• data through intervention or interaction with the individual
• identifiable private information through direct or indirect means

Is it Research?
The definition of research is: A systematic investigation designed to produce or contribute to generalizable knowledge.

To determine if its research, look at how you will use the knowledge:

Knowledge that is not research:

• Used for internal purposes only, to improve a curriculum, see if students are graduating.
• On-time, to measure substance abuse on campus.
• No public presentation.
• No publication (thesis or grant counts as publication).
• Student research practica, the goal of which is to provide research training and allow students to practice social psychological, and educational processes (while not reviewed, they should still follow the guidelines for the protection of privacy, dignity and welfare).

Knowledge that is research:

• Data is published.
• Data is presented at conference.
• Data is sent to another organization.
• Directed or independent student research projects, employing systematic data.
• Collection with the intent of contributing to generalizable knowledge.
• When a thesis or senior project is the result.

If you answered yes to the above two questions, the project requires review by the Institutional Review Board. The following describes the three categories of review and should help in designing your classroom or service learning project:

Categories of IRB Review

Exempt
An exempt project, while needing review, is exempt from the regulations. The following meets the criteria of an exempt project and requires a simple, one-page application:

• No more risk than one would encounter in everyday life.
• Data cannot be linked to a name.
• The questions are not sensitive in nature.
• No special populations involved.

Example: An anonymous survey regarding food preferences -
Why exempt? Minimal risk, data can't be linked to a name, therefore, the project is exempt from the regulations.

Expedited Review
An expedited project must follow the regulations, requires a full application, but is reviewed by the chair and/or administrator, not the full board.

• No more than minimal risk.
• Standard research methods.
• Does not address sensitive issues.
• Uses subjects that are competent to give consent.

Example: A questionnaire regarding student's motivation to study and a questionnaire regarding study habits that will be coded so they can be compared.
Why Expedited? Questions are not sensitive, but because data is coded and can be linked to a name it is not exempt.

Full Board Review
A full board review at the monthly IRB meeting is required under the following circumstances:

• More than minimal risk.
• Sensitive questions.
• Special populations of subjects such as children, the elderly, mentally ill or handicapped, prisoners, students (when their professor is doing the research), employees.

Example: A survey of students in a sociology class, by their instructor, soliciting their opinions regarding situations of date rape for his own research.
Why full review? Sensitive questions, voluntary participation is questionable, students may feel they have to participate in order to get a good grade.

Example: Taped interviews of 6th graders regarding their opinions on school violence where the data will be coded.
Why full review? Children are a special population and require full review. There is more than minimal risk because the questions may be sensitive in nature or elicit answers that will put the students at risk by revealing illegal activities that they are involved in or know about such as bringing a weapon to school. Data can be linked to a name. In addition, minors cannot give consent to participate, it must be obtained from their parents.