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 ethical guidelines for human subjects research. In cases of animal or other sensitive research, the proposal will be considered by a subcommittee designed specifically with that expertise. The committee consists of several faculty members representing all four colleges and a few community experts, most of whom engage in original research in addition to their academic responsibilities.
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 are the first Friday of the month for December and May. Applications received outside of the academic calendar year (during breaks) or sensitive and full board reviews are completed as time permits. Applicants are encouraged to access specific handbooks for advice in completing projects for 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 he/she 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 care encouraged to check with advisors to be certain that it is forwarded in a timely manner.
Once approved applications are received at IRB, they are routed to a subcommittee. Feedback can be expected within two weeks during the academic calendar. 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:
Any collaborators in outside institutions (other researchers, school teachers, principals?
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.
General statement of the problem and formulation of the research hypothesis (for thesis/ dissertation) or research questions (for action research/ lit review) to be investigated by the proposed research
Description in detail of the overall plan, procedures and methods. (Attach any questionnaires and/or testing instruments, as well as cover letter instructions to participants and permission letters to parents, etc)
Include number, relevant characteristics and source of participants. Describe how the participants will be recruited. With all data to be used (case files, curriculum projects, assessments etc.), how is the anonymity of participants protected and what is the procedure to access this data? What will be specifically culled from the data set? Also, please 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, and that all efforts were made to guard the confidentiality of participants (especially in the case of minors/ students in school settings)
Describe how the participants will be selected for participation in this project and any remuneration to be received by the participants (incentives)
Status and qualifications of research assistants, if any
Source of funding for the project (if relevant, typically for faculty research)
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 benefit of this project to the individual participant, group of participants or society in general.
Outline potential risks to participants and the measures taken to minimize such risks
Specify steps taken to guard the anonymity of participants and/or the confidentiality of their responses. Indicate what personal identifying indicator will be kept on participants. Specify procedures for storage and ultimate disposal information. For legal purposes, BU advisors are responsible for the data collected and encouraged to store it on campus, locked
If relevant to your study, specify how subjects will be informed of the following: a) The nature of their participation in the project, b) That there participation is voluntary, c) That their responses are confidential. Attach a copy of the Informed Consent Form(s)
If the participants are to be drawn from an institution or organization (e.g., hospital, social service agency, prison, school, etc.) which has the responsibility for the participants, documentation of permission from the institution must be submitted to the Board before final approval can be given
If relevant, specify institutional ethical procedures, at the site of data collection, to which application will be subjected (e.g., what are the research review procedures at the institution where the data will be obtained; or how will you account for some student inclusion and not others?
If relevant, specify any special participants populations (e.g., minors, prisons, 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 whether they are able to freely give consent to are coerced in giving consent
Will the participant(s) 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 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.
