{"id":51,"date":"2024-09-17T19:10:08","date_gmt":"2024-09-17T19:10:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/irb\/?page_id=51"},"modified":"2026-05-02T01:33:18","modified_gmt":"2026-05-02T01:33:18","slug":"guide","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/irb\/guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Decision Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The following questions are expected to help you discern&nbsp;if your research qualifies for an IRB exemption:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>When does one require IRB approval?<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>If you collect research data from living individuals, both directly or indirectly, then you may have to obtain an IRB approval before you start your study. \u00a0IRB does not regulate or review research projects that do not include human subjects. Most projects that involve deceased individuals would not require IRB approval.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>How do know if I am doing human subject research?<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong> <\/strong>If you plan to collect data from living individuals through a systematic manner to arrive at generalizable knowledge, then your activities are subject to IRB oversight<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Can my study be EXEMPT from IRB oversight?\u00a0<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Often researchers confuse the literal meaning of the world &#8220;exempt&#8221; with the OHR&#8217;s definition in the context of human subject research. \u00a0If you plan to collect\u00a0data from living human beings to develop organized generalizable knowledge, then your study IS NOT EXEMPT in literal terms, but you can obtain an exemption status from completing the comprehensive IRB approval process provided all of the following conditions are met:\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list is-style-compact-list\">\n<li>No identifiable information is recorded or collected<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A signed informed consent form is obtained from the participant<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>All participants are over 18 years of age<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The research participants are not protected individuals, such as children, pregnant women, mentally disabled, certain individuals with physical disability, prisoners, etc<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>No data are collected from the participants that may pose any psychological, emotional, financial or other types of risks<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Other study-specific constraints may apply<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>What are the types of mechanisms under which IRB applications are reviewed?\u00a0<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>There are three types of review mechanisms. \u00a0The review requirements and the documentation for all three mechanisms are essentially same. \u00a0There are a few critical differences that are more attributed to the study than the researcher.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>EXEMPT &#8211; This does not mean the research is exempt from an IRB protocol. \u00a0It only means that the study does not require continuing annual review and the protocol can be continued beyond 3 years without renewal.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>EXPEDITED &#8211; This does not mean that the review is a faster. \u00a0What it does mean is that the proposed protocol will be reviewed by a subset of IRB members rather than the entire Committee. \u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>FULL COMMITTEE REVIEW &#8211; Those studies that pose more than minimal risk<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>What type of review mechanism should I request?\u00a0<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Most of the time the researchers do not have the liberty to make this choice; the choice for review depends on the study. \u00a0Not having a clear understanding on the document requirement and the review process may result in significant time delay and stress for the researchers. \u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Where do I start?\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It may be very challenging and stressful, especially for new students, to navigate through all the rules and regulations to determine what type of application one is required to fill. \u00a0The following is work flow has helped many researchers to submit\u00a0clear research protocols:\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list is-style-compact-list\">\n<li>Complete your CITI training first &#8211; visit <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/irb\/requirements\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"14\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CITI Training page<\/a> for more information;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Work on your informed consent &#8211; although the informed consent is a document, it is essential to note that the consent process is a conversation. \u00a0Once the researcher determines what activities &amp; procedures require informed consent, then it will be much more clearer what can be done and what cannot be done. \u00a0Assess the risks and discomforts to be experienced by the paritipants and disclose that in your informed consent. \u00a0Any additional information, such as demographics, personal behavior and other types of information you plan to collect from them needs to be disclosed up front;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Determine if the data collected through the informed consent process is sufficient to answer the research question;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Also determine your participant pool and how you plan to recruit\/enroll them;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Now determine what type of survey or research instrument you will use that would comply with the consent process and still be able to answer your research questions;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Develop a research protocol &#8211; a step by step flow of various procedures and practices &#8211; to comply with all of the above;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In situations where you need assistance or help, recruit or invite co-investigators to work with you &#8211; ensure they have CITI training &#8211; Social and Behavioral Research training course and supplemental modules as required by your study and participant types;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If your study is conducted at the physical location of a place other than MTSU, then letters of permission on a valid verifiable format (such as letter heads) must be attached with your application. Emails and other types of correspondences will not be accepted;\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If you are student, request a faculty advisor who best suits your research goal to be your mentor\u00a0&#8211; please note that the students cannot directly apply for a protocol.\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>This is not done to prevent students from applying, but to protect them from institutional liabilties in case the protocol is non-compliant. \u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If a protocol is found non-compliant, all or a portion of the data could become invalid thereby affecting the students&#8217; academic status.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Start filling out your forms;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Speak to other students and faculty who have a successful human subject research program;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Request for\u00a0a meeting with the compliance staff to go over specifics of your\u00a0research plan and what type of regulatory challenges you are likely to face &#8211; Tel: 615 898 2600 or by email: <a href=\"mailto:irb_information@mtsu.edu\">irb_information@mtsu.edu<\/a>;\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>The link provided at the end is expected to help a researcher find answers to several of the questions listed below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list is-style-compact-list\">\n<li>Is IRB approval required for your\u00a0study?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Are you engaged in &#8220;research&#8221; under MTSU Policy and Federal Regulations?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Does your study\u00a0involve &#8220;human subjects&#8221;?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What are different types of IRB review processes?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What kind of IRB review should you request?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Do you need to apply for full IRB review, expedited IRB review, or exempt IRB review?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-a89b3969 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-mtsublue-background-color has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"http:\/\/www.hhs.gov\/ohrp\/policy\/checklists\/decisioncharts.html\" style=\"border-radius:5px\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">View the HHS Decision Chart<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The following questions are expected to help you discern&nbsp;if your research qualifies for an IRB exemption: The link provided at the end is expected to help a researcher find answers to several of the questions listed below:<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-bannernosidebar.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-51","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/irb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/51","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/irb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/irb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/irb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/irb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=51"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/irb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/51\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2098,"href":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/irb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/51\/revisions\/2098"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/irb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=51"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}