Procedure 94

Administrative Procedure 94

UW-Parkside Institutional Review Board Policy

In some cases, faculty researchers may wish to use their own students as research subjects. Because the status relationship between faculty and students raises ethical concerns about coercion and undue influence, the UW-Parkside Institutional Review Board provides guidance for researchers who deem it necessary to use their students as research subjects. The IRB will consider the following factors when reviewing such research requests:

  1. The research must present minimal risk to subjects.
  2. Recruitment of subjects must be indirect (through a flyer, letter, etc.) so that the student initiates contact with the researcher.
  3. If research participation is an option for receiving course credit, alternative methods of obtaining equivalent credit with no more than approximately equivalent time and effort should be provided.
  4. Informed consent language must clearly state that subjects may withdraw from the study at any point without penalties.
  5. Researcher must obtain students' consent in order to use any student information that is available to him/her by virtue of being an instructor (e .g., grade information) in the research.
  6. An individual other than the instructor must obtain informed consent for the study. If this isn't possible, IRB can consider other methods that would minimize or eliminate the potential for coercive influence in the informed consent procedure.
  7. If a researcher conducts research with students during class time, that research should be relevant to the topic of the class, and participation should be part of students' learning experience.
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