Identify and describe the five basic steps of obtaining approval from an IRB.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Ans: Answer would ideally include: (1) Familiarize yourself with the process used by the IRB on your campus. This includes obtaining all required application forms, knowing the submission deadlines, and finding out whose signatures are required on the forms. (2) Determine what information about your project the IRB needs. Most IRBs will require, at a minimum, the following: (a) a brief overview and purpose of the study, (b) a listing of the guiding research question, (c) a (very) brief literature review, (d) a description of how participants will be selected, (d) specifications of both the risks and the benefits of the study for the participants, (e) a description of the proposed methodologies and data collection plans, (f) proposed plans for data analyses, and (g) copies of all instrumentation and informed consent forms. (3) Develop all data collection instrumentation and related informed consent forms. It is critical to keep in mind that, if your proposal is approved, you cannot change your instrumentation or consent forms without further delaying the start of your study. (4) Complete the IRB application. This is typically accomplished by providing all the required information (as outlined in Step 2 above). (5) Submit your completed IRB application--including all required signatures--to the IRB for review.