All research projects involving human subjects that are carried out under the auspices of Vassar College must be approved by the IRB before the project begins. This includes survey/questionnaire research, structured and semi-structured interviews, and experiments. Some forms of observational research require IRB approval. One year after approval, all ongoing research must be resubmitted for review.
Projects based on oral histories of one or two interviewees that are not intended to produce information that aims at "generalizable knowledge" do not involve "research as defined by the HHS regulations." Thus, such projects are not ordinarily subject to IRB review.
If you are unsure about whether your project must undergo IRB review, please contact the IRB chair ( 845.437.7368).
BEFORE YOU COMPLETE THE APPLICATION
Please make sure your procedures and consent forms meet the requirements for informed consent (Elements Necessary for Obtaining Informed Consent).
Risks: In general, it's best not to state that there are "no risks" involved the research. According to federal guidelines, the lowest level of risk is "minimal risk." Minimal risk refers to:
". . . .risk of harm anticipated is not greater, considering probability and magnitude, than those ordinarily encountered in daily life or during the performance of routine physical or psychological examinations or tests." Thus, use the phrase "minimal risk" to refer to such procedures. Informed consent procedures require that the participants be told the types of potential risks (e.g., emotional, physical, etc) and the degree of risk.
Benefits: Potential benefits should be mentioned. In most cases, the participant will not benefit in any direct way from participation. Compensation and contributions to the knowledge base are not included in this section.
See the Application Checklist for other tips about speeding up the review process.