All research conducted at Benedictine University which involves human or animal subjects must first be reviewed by the Institutional Review Board (IRB). The mission of IRB is to assure that ethical guidelines for research are followed.
IRB reviews each research proposal and will either approve the proposal or make a formal request for changes to meet NIH and/or APA or ACA ethical guidelines for research involving human subjects. In cases of animal or other sensitive research, the proposal will be considered by a subcommittee designed specifically with that expertise. The IRB committee consists of several faculty members representing all colleges and who are engaged in their own original research in addition to their academic responsibilities. On occasion, when specific expertise is required, community experts are invited to aid in the review process.
Applications for review of research are accepted by IRB at any time, and are reviewed by the committee typically on a two week turn around during the academic calendar year. Note that end of semester deadlines for submission are the first Friday of December for fall semester and the first Friday of May for spring semester. Applications received outside of the regular academic calendar year (during breaks) or those of a sensitive nature that require full IRB board review, are completed as time permits. Applicants are encouraged to access specific handbooks for advice in completing specific research projects with the appropriate templates (consent forms, parent permission, institutional agreements, etc.)
Applying to IRB
Click on the red button marked “IRB Online Application” (below).
Once in the application, complete the checklist and application; upload all attachments as you complete the form.
Utilize the “Save and Resume Later” link at the bottom of the form, and you may return to your application at a later time for modifications.
Once the form is complete and all attachments are uploaded, click the “Submit to Advisor” button.
Your application is routed directly to your ADVISOR (whatever email address you provided in the box you completed for advisor email) so they can approve it.
Once your ADVISOR approves the application, the ADVISOR forwards it to [email protected]. A simple note of “this application meets my approval” is sufficient. Students are encouraged to check with advisors to be certain that it is forwarded in a timely manner.
Once ADVISOR-approved applications are received at IRB, they are routed to a subcommittee. Feedback can be expected within two weeks during the academic calendar. Feedback is sent both to the student researcher and their ADVISOR. The student is expected to work with their ADVISOR to address feedback from the IRB committee. Applications submitted outside of the academic calendar, or on breaks, reviews may take additional time. If revisions are recommended, the two-week turn around process restarts from the time IRB receives materials from advisors and/or students.
You should include in your description of proposed project the following:
If there are any collaborators in outside institutions (other researchers, school teachers, principals, physicians, etc.) involved in the proposed research they must be identified.
If other collaborators are involved, has this project already been approved at the host institution? If so, please provide a letter or have the host sign an institutional agreement.
Provide a general statement of the problem, formulation of the research hypothesis (for thesis/ dissertation), or research questions (for action research/ lit review) to be investigated by the proposed research.
Describe in detail the overall plan, procedures, and methods to be used. Attach any questionnaires, surveys, and/or testing instruments. Include cover letter instructions to participants, informed consent, and permission letters for parents to consent for their minor children to participate. etc.
If using existing data sets, what specifically will be culled from the data sets? Enclose a letter from the original researcher, or data collector, or their representative, giving permission to use the data. Where relevant, the writer of the letter should indicate that informed consent was collected from participants, including consent for their data to be used by researchers other than those who originally collected it, and that all efforts were made to guard the confidentiality of participants, especially in the case of minors/ students in school settings, patients in medical settings, etc. . Include the number, relevant characteristics, and how participants were obtained or recruited. With any existing or collected data that is used (case files, curriculum projects, assessments, surveys, narratives, etc.), describe how the anonymity of participants will be protected, who will be able to access the data, how long it will be maintained, and the procedure to access the data.
Describe how the participants will be selected for this project and any remuneration or incentives to be received by them.
Provide the status and qualifications of research assistants, if any.
Provide the source of funding for the project,if relevant, typically for faculty research.
Provide expected starting and ending dates for the project. Projects cannot begin without written approval of the IRB. DO NOT INCLUDE DATES ALREADY PAST.
Outline potential benefits of this project to the individual participants, group to which participants belong, or to society in general.
Outline potential risks to participants and the measures taken to minimize such risks.
Specify the steps taken to guard the anonymity of participants and/or the confidentiality of their responses. Indicate what personal identifying indicator/s will be kept on participants. Specify procedures for storage and ultimate disposal information. For legal purposes, Benedictine University advisors are responsible for the data collected, and encouraged to store it on campus, in a locked file, or password protected digital file.
If relevant to your study, specify how participants will be informed of the following: a) the nature of their participation in the project, b) that their participation is voluntary, c) that their responses are confidential. Attach a copy of the Informed Consent Form(s) used.
If the participants are to be drawn from an institution or organization (e.g., hospital, clinic, social service agency, prison, school, etc.) which has the responsibility for the participants, documentation of permission from the institution must be submitted to the IRB before final approval can be given. If relevant, specify the institutional ethical procedures, at the site of data collection, to which application will be subjected, e.g., describe the research review procedures at the institution where the data will be obtained.
If relevant, specify any special participant populations (e.g., minors, prisoners, or the mentally incompetent) involved in this project and describe the procedures for obtaining the appropriate consent. Participants may be considered ‘special populations’ when there is a question of whether they are able to freely give consent to participate.
If relevant, describe whether the participant(s) will be exposed to any psychological intervention such as deception, contrived social situations, manipulation of the participants’ attitudes, opinions, or self-esteem, psychotherapeutic procedures, or other psychological influences. If so, describe procedures for follow-up and/or debriefing.
Make certain that at least one researcher (usually the primary researcher or faculty advisor) holds a current (within the past 5 years) certification of training in the protection of human research participants, or the proper use of animals in research obtained through the NIH, CITI, or PHRP. That certification must be on file with the IRB chair. Faculty advisors may specify whether all members of a student research team need to obtain certification of training. Certification is required and mandated by NIH. No research proposal will be approved without proper documentation.
Make certain that at least one researcher (usually the primary or faculty) is certified through NIH and has a copy of that certification on file with the IRB chair. Certification is required and mandated by NIH. No research proposal will be approved without proper documentation.
