Dear 49ͼ Employees,
All research that involves human participation is subject to oversight by the University's Institutional Review Board (IRB). If you or your students plan to conduct research that involves human participants, please read this memo to ensure that you are in compliance with University and federal regulations. Detailed information can be found on the University's IRB website.
For any faculty or students new to research with human participants, please note that 49ͼ has a Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) subscription that includes access to a basic training for research involving human participants. To access this training, log in through your organization (choose 49ͼ to access through our SSO). There are many trainings available, which can be viewed by clicking “add a course.” One training that might be particularly helpful is the course targeted to “Social & Behavioral Research Investigators” as highlighted in the screenshot.
For the purposes of IRB oversight, "research" is defined as "a systematic investigation designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge." Thus, course evaluations, surveys for internal use, and classroom projects that will not be publicly disseminated are not usually categorized as research, and hence are unlikely to need IRB review.
Briefly, there are three classes of research:
Exempt from Review
Research that poses no risk to the participants (e.g., some attitude surveys, cognitive measures, interviews, observation of public behavior, anonymous data sets), or that poses minimal risk and guarantees full anonymity, is generally exempt from IRB oversight. However, all researchers are required to notify the IRB that such research is taking place. Details about how to submit an exemption request appear here.
Expedited Review
Proposals may be submitted for expedited review if they pose no more than "minimal risk" to participants or involve only minor changes from previously approved research. Minimal risk means "that the probability and magnitude of harm or discomfort anticipated in the research are not greater in and of themselves than those ordinarily encountered in daily life or during the performance of routine physical or psychological examinations or tests." Expedited reviews are usually reviewed by one IRB member as well as the chair. We try to assure this process occurs within 10 business days.
Full Review
Research that could expose participants to harm (broadly construed), that manipulates their behavior, or that includes intentional deceit requires review by the full IRB committee. Meetings are held once per semester, and proposals requiring full IRB review this fall must be submitted by noon on Oct. 4 (Friday), 2024. The review process typically takes 10 business days.
Important Note About Proposals with Student Researchers
Providing basic guidance on the process of submitting proposals, as well as guidance regarding the purpose and import of the IRB, is the responsibility of faculty supervisors. If a faculty supervisor desires for students to submit directly to the IRB (vs. submitting on their behalf), please note that the IRB requires that faculty supervisors review and give final approval of any student-initiated submissions to the IRB. If you are the faculty supervisor for a proposal you will receive all IRB correspondence regarding that proposal, even if submitted by a student. It is expected that you will then work with your students to implement any feedback according to the provided guidelines. The intent of these requirements is to streamline the IRB process for both the board members and researchers (e.g., minimizing back-and-forth edits) and to ensure students have faculty guidance on the history and purpose of the IRB, as well as what is expected for proposal submissions.
After reviewing this email, the CITI training, and the , if you have any remaining questions, please feel free to contact the IRB chair, IRB_chair@colgate.edu.
Take care,
Erin Cooley
Associate Professor of Psychology
Chair, Institutional Review Board
April Baptiste
Associate Dean of the Faculty for Global and Local Initiatives; Leary Family Chair in Environmental Studies; Professor of Environmental Studies and Africana and Latin American Studies