Module 4: The Institutional Review Board Process

Essential Questions 

• What is an IRB? 
• Why do practitioners need to use an IRB?
• What are some of the features of writing an IRB application? 

Institutional Review Boards (IRB) are independent ethics committees housed in specific organizations like universities or health care organizations. If a practitioner intends to conduct research with students and potentially publish or share those results at a conference or in a publication, it is necessary to obtain approval from a group of individuals focused on ethical treatment of subjects, including students of all ages. 

The IRB application document is distinct to each accrediting body, but it contains similar components and should be seen as a genre of writing. Familiarizing one’s self to the genre and then drafting the IRB document, seeking feedback from peers on the draft, and then submitting the document and awaiting approval takes time, so practitioners should prepare for this lengthy process. 

There are a few categories under which a practitioner’s research might fall. Knowing the IRB categories and to which category the research belongs is necessary because it determines the length of the application process. Explore the two options below: 

1. Non-exempt from review, requiring full IRB review 

Any research that involves protected classes-based research, including, but not limited to, children under the age of 18 and/or cognitively impaired individuals requires a full IRB review, which can take months to process (GCU IRB Research Center, n.d.). 

Observational research of these protected classes is acceptable and still requires full IRB review. It is considered exempt if these observations occur in a public context, which will speed up the review process; observational research occurs when the practitioner does not participate in any activities or manipulate the situation in any way. With this said, exempt, observational research will not be likely for most practitioners who are usually hands-on and involved with their subjects, or students. A full non-exempt IRB is most likely needed for most PreK-12 practitioners and their “whys.”

1. Exempt from review, no full IRB review required 

If the practitioner is conducting research with adult students that is curriculum-based, including activities that are part of the curriculum / instructional methods of a course and present minimal risk to those adult students, information is recorded in a manner that the subjects cannot be identified, or information will not be made public in the form of presentation or publication outside of the classroom or educational setting, then is it also exempt from review. This, again, speeds up the review process (GCU IRB Research Center, n.d.). 

Survey, interview, behavioral observation, or educational test-based research with adults is also exempt when the researcher guarantees confidentiality of personally identifiable information. This option is generally viable for college-level educators, not PreK-12 educators.

The IRB application is a unique genre of writing that requires clear, concise, yet detailed information on a variety of areas related to the following areas: 

• Data collection process
• Description of the research activity
• Population and participant information 
• Recruitment of participants, including informed consent, assent, and permission 
  • Informed consent is needed for adults and assent and permission from parents are needed from children under the age of 18
• Research design and timeline
• Research materials and tools
• Possible risks involved
• Securing the data
• Financial disclosures and conflicts of interest (if any) 

Overcoming Fears of the IRB Process

For many practitioners who are new to research and publication or who are unfamiliar with an IRB and its processes, it is important to remember that the IRB is there to provide support – all to ensure ethical research takes place in communities here and beyond. While the “art” of writing an application for the IRB is time consuming at first, it gets easier as one gets accustomed to the genre of writing and the expectations set forth in the application. Asking a trusted colleague for guidance through the application process is essential. Tackling the application solo can be daunting, so instead reach out and ask for support. Many organizations, including Grand Canyon University, offer guidance with the IRB application process upon request and through various training modules. For instance, pre-drafted consent and permission forms are provided to researchers for their use.

The IRB is tasked with ensuring ethical research, and their guidance through the application and approval process will help a practitioner feel confident that his or her work is occurring in the most conscientious, thoughtful, and respectful manner. It also helps give the practitioner the stamp of approval to move forward with sharing their findings on a broader scale, which is necessary as teachers, staff, and administrators endeavor to professionalize and “re-moralize” the teaching workforce (Walker, 2007, 2008).

Suggested Readings

https://cirt.gcu.edu/gcu_irb_documents/irb_policy_and_procedures/gcu_irb_handbookpdf

https://cirt.gcu.edu/gcu_irb_documents/4_guidelines_for_site_authorization_to_conduct_research_actions/site_authorization_letter_general_templatedocx