Working with people while conducting a survey requires careful ethical consideration. The Institutional Review Board (IRB) is a committee formed to ensure the ethical treatment of human research subjects in all forms of research (Mackey & Gass, 2005). As research projects typically involve humans (we’re not sure how much information you’re going to get from a group of badgers), you must seek IRB approval before beginning your research. While this extra step in the process may appear daunting at first, the IRB is there to help you create a sound ethical research design. It is also important to note that if you do not consult with your IRB before beginning your research, then you will not be able to publish the results. Therefore, it is vital to complete this step before starting date collection.
The IRB approval process can be broken down into three simple steps:
Be sure to check your institution’s IRB policies before you get started. For more information see the Middlebury Institutional Review Board.
Personal Project
If your research involves humans, make sure you seek approval from the Institutional Review Board at your institution before you begin. Start the process early, as you’ll have to complete an ethics training and submit an application to the IRB, and it takes time for the review to be completed.
