IRB
IRB approval Course-based projects, such as interviews, marketing surveys, or oral history projects, are generally excluded from regulatory oversight if the results remain in the classroom (and so cannot contribute to generalizable knowledge and are therefore not considered “research”). However, one must still provide the IRB with a brief email describing who will be studied, the type of measures, location, and dissemination intentions (e.g. the findings will not be made public in any way).
Thus, if you only plan to submit this project for the class, and not present it elsewhere, ever, under any circumstances, then a paragraph description sent to the IRB should suffice. This is called “limited review”. In effect, you are telling the IRB that you are not doing “research”, since your project does not contribute to generalizable knowledge. Still, please send me that paragraph before you submit it to the IRBso that I can help you avoid common mistakes that will delay your project. Once I tell you it is ready, send it to irb@richmond.edu. The IRB will review the project and provide you with written notification of its determination.
However, IF YOU PLAN TO PRESENT YOUR RESEARCH AT THE LALIS SYMPOSIUM, A&S RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM OR ANY OTHER VENUE OUTSIDE OUR CLASS, THEN YOUR RESULTS DO NOT ‘REMAIN IN THE CLASSROOM’ AND THUS YOU MUST SUMIT AN IRB APPLICATION. You should develop an IRB EXPEDITED REVIEW PROPOSAL. The form is available on the IRB website, under the ’Submitting proposals’ tab, but here is a direct link
It is likely that you will be exempted from review (45 CFR 46), but you still must go through the protocol. Please send me your application materials before you submit them to the IRB so that I can help you avoid common mistakes that will delay your project.
Training URIRB has determined that all individuals who conduct research with human participants, and those who supervise such projects, complete training in the ethics of human research. Part of the application requirements for an Expedited Review Proposal is this training. The University subscribes to an online training service, CITI, where you can meet this requirement (http://irb.richmond.edu/training-requirements).