Human Subjects (IRB) - Research and Sponsored Programs

According to the Department of Health and Human Services Code of Federal Regulations, to require IRB review, projects must fall under the definition of research, and involve human subjects.

Research means a systematic investigation, including research development, testing, and evaluation, designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge [45 CFR 46.102(l)]. 

Human subject means a living individual about whom an investigator (whether professional or student) conducts research and (i) Obtains information or biospecimens through intervention or interaction with the individual, and uses, studies, or analyzes the information or biospecimens; or (ii) Obtains, uses, studies, analyzes, or generates identifiable private information or identifiable biospecimens. [45 CFR 46.102(e)(1)].

Class Projects: In general, IRB will not review class projects. Faculty are encouraged to have students complete CITI training, in addition to other course activities in the faculty area of expertise, to review the ethical foundations of human subjects in responsible conduct of research.

If you are unsure whether your work requires review, email IRB Chair, Derek Anderson at dereande@nmu.edu with a short summary of your project.

All emails sent to groups of people on campus must go through a review and approval process. Please check all NMU mass email rules and processes prior to making a request. 
 

Mass email requests that are not related to research go through the Dean of Students Office. Mass emails related to research must go through the process below: 

1- Contact the IRB chair at hsrr@nmu.edu to determine if IRB review is necessary.

2- Submit the Mass Email Application to hsrr@nmu.edu (please review the Mass Email notes and requirements listed at the top of the application page).

3- Once you have received approval for your mass email request, review the Mass Email rules and process, then follow the ePostal instructions to submit the email for distribution.

IMPORTANT: A faculty member must be the Principal Investigator (PI) for the project; students may not conduct any research project or seek mass email approval without a faculty mentor as PI (see IRB Policy Manual).

The American Psychological Association (APA) acknowledges that there are some studies that cannot be conducted without the use of deception (see APA Code of Ethics).   The following guidelines are provided by the APA:

8.07 Deception in Research

(a) Psychologists do not conduct a study involving deception unless they have determined that the use of deceptive techniques is justified by the study's significant prospective scientific, educational, or applied value and that effective nondeceptive alternative procedures are not feasible.

(b) Psychologists do not deceive prospective participants about research that is reasonably expected to cause physical pain or severe emotional distress.

(c) Psychologists explain any deception that is an integral feature of the design and conduct of an experiment to participants as early as is feasible, preferably at the conclusion of their participation, but no later than at the conclusion of the data collection, and permit participants to withdraw their data.

8.08 Debriefing

(a) Psychologists provide a prompt opportunity for participants to obtain appropriate information about the nature, results, and conclusions of the research, and they take reasonable steps to correct any misconceptions that participants may have of which the psychologists are aware.

(b) If scientific or humane values justify delaying or withholding this information, psychologists take reasonable measures to reduce the risk of harm.

(c) When psychologists become aware that research procedures have harmed a participant, they take reasonable steps to minimize the harm.

Given these guidelines, all studies involving deception will receive a full review by the NMU HSRRC.   Research applicants can expect to respond to the following questions:

1. What does the deception entail?
2. Why is deception necessary for this study?  That is, describe the importance of this research that justifies the use of deception.  Describe why using a non-deceptive research methodology is not possible.
3. Provide a script that will be used in the debriefing session.  Explain how and what subjects will be told during the debriefing.
4. Include in the debriefing script that subjects will be told that they have the option of withdrawing from the study, and that upon request, their data will not be used in the study.