{"id":60,"date":"2024-09-17T20:16:07","date_gmt":"2024-09-17T20:16:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/irb\/?page_id=60"},"modified":"2026-06-24T03:05:04","modified_gmt":"2026-06-24T03:05:04","slug":"typesofirbreviews","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/irb\/typesofirbreviews\/","title":{"rendered":"What are the Types of IRB Reviews?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The IRB uses THREE types of review mechanisms<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list is-style-compact-list\">\n<li>Exempt<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Expedited<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Full Member Review<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>A short description of each mechanism is provided below. You can view the specific requirements for each review type by clicking the appropriate links. Please bear in mind that the examples given on this page are listed only as a starting point to help you decide what kind of review you may request. You should thoroughly read and understand the requirements detailed in the PDFs linked to each review type before making a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-lightgray-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-lightgray-background-color has-background is-style-wide\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Exempt Review<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Research qualifying for Exempt Review must present no more than minimal risk to participants. Most research qualifying as Exempt at MTSU will fall into one of the categories listed below. Surveys or interviews on sensitive topics will not qualify for Exempt Review. Additionally, research involving videotaping subjects will not qualify for Exempt Review (in some cases, audio recording may qualify). <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/irb\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/129\/2024\/09\/Exempt-Review-Qualifications.pdf\" data-type=\"attachment\" data-id=\"47\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Download the PDF <\/a>for a complete description on how to qualify for the Exempt Review mechanism and for other rarely used categories. You will need to indicate what category you believe your research meets on your Exempt Review Application. Exempt reviews are conducted by staff in the Research Compliance Office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list is-style-compact-list\">\n<li>Evaluation or Comparison of Commonly Accepted Instructional Strategies\/Curricula<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Educational Tests, Surveys, Interviews, or Observations<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Collection or Study of Existing Data<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Use this&nbsp;checklist to determine if your study qualifies for exemption:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Screening Questions to Determine Exemption Status<\/strong><\/td><td colspan=\"2\"><strong>Response<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>1. Are the subjects from a vulnerable group (prisoners, seriously ill or cognitively impaired)?<\/td><td>Yes<\/td><td>No<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>2. Do you plan to collect behavior information that could reasonably place the subjects at risk of criminal or civil liability or be damaging to the individual&#8217;s financial standing, employability or reputation?<\/td><td>Yes<\/td><td>No<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>3. Will you collect <strong>sensitive<\/strong> information or personal aspects of the subject&#8217;s behavior (drug\/alcohol use, illegal conduct, sexual behavior, mental health, etc.)?<\/td><td>Yes&nbsp;<\/td><td>No<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>4. Except for researching normal education practices, will this study involve minors (<strong>under 18<\/strong>)?<\/td><td>&nbsp;Yes<\/td><td>No<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>5. Will this research expose the subjects to discomfort or stress beyond the levels encountered in daily life?<\/td><td>Yes<\/td><td>No<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>6. Do you plan to <strong>videotape<\/strong> the participants (in some cases audiotaping may qualify for exemption)?<\/td><td>Yes<\/td><td>No<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>If you +answered Yes to any of the above questions, then you WILL NOT qualify for an exemption. \u00a0You have to file a petition through either the EXPEDITED or the FULL REVIEW process.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/irb\/exemptpaperwork\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"62\">Click here<\/a> for more information on the Exempt review process and documentation required to apply for MTSU IRB approval under this scheme<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-lightgray-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-lightgray-background-color has-background is-style-wide\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Expedited Review<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Research qualifying for Expedited Review must present no more than minimal risk. Most research qualifying for Expedited review at MTSU will meet one of the following categories. View the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/irb\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/129\/2024\/09\/Expedited_Review.pdf\" data-type=\"attachment\" data-id=\"48\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">PDF<\/a> for a description on how to qualify for the Expedited Review mechanism. Under this mechanism, the protocols are typically reviewed by one member of the IRB committee. Please note that the current practice is for the reviewer to communicate directly with you regarding any necessary revisions or additional information needed before granting approval. In rare instances, additional reviewers may be designated for studies that require more than one area of expertise to determine compliance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list is-style-compact-list\">\n<li>Research involving exercise studies or studies using physical devices.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Collection of data from voice, video, digital or image recordings made for research purposes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Research on group or individual characteristics of behavior (when not meeting Exempt Requirements)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Collection of blood samples<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Collection of biological specimens for research purposes collected by noninvasive means.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Collection of data through noninvasive procedures.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Clinical studies of drugs and medical devices.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Research involving materials that have been collected for non-research purposes (when not meeting Exempt Requirements)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/irb\/expeditedprocedures\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"87\">Click here<\/a> for more information on the&nbsp;Expedited&nbsp;review process and documentation required to apply for MTSU IRB approval under this scheme<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-lightgray-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-lightgray-background-color has-background is-style-wide\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Full Review<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If your research presents more than minimal risk or does not meet the qualifications for Exempt or Expedited review you will need to apply for Full Review. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/irb\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/129\/2024\/09\/Full_Review.pdf\" data-type=\"attachment\" data-id=\"49\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Read the PDF<\/a> carefully and follow all directions including strict adherence to time requirements. Examples of research that would require full review are listed below. The Full IRB committee will review your protocol at a convened meeting.&nbsp; After the meeting the IRB Chair will contact you with the IRB&#8217;s decision along with any additional questions and revisions needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list is-style-compact-list\">\n<li>Research that might put subjects at risk<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Research involving deception that might have adverse effects on the subjects<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Research involving vulnerable populations (e.g. individuals with cognitive impairments)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/irb\/fullreviewprocedures\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"96\">Click here<\/a> for more information on the Full Member&nbsp;review process and documentation required to apply for MTSU IRB approval under this scheme<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-mtsu-blocks-alert-box web_alert_group\"><div class=\"web_alert\"><h2 class=\"alert-title\">Please Note:<\/h2><p class=\"alert-text\">Be aware that the practice of direct correspondence between reviewers and investigators may change when the Office of Compliance upgrades its application submission mechanism. Presently, all applications are submitted via email, which has posed several challenges in turn-around times, especially during peak submission months. Therefore, the Office of Compliance is working toward an automated review system that will involve online submission of applications. The direct communication with IRB members was instituted to expedite the review process, but unfortunately, it exposes the identity of the reviewer. The Office of Compliance is working with the Vice Provost&#8217;s office to implement changes to this procedure so that the reviewer\u2019s identity can be protected and the process made more efficient.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The IRB uses THREE types of review mechanisms A short description of each mechanism is provided below. You can view the specific requirements for each review type by clicking the appropriate links. Please bear in mind that the examples given on this page are listed only as a starting point to help you decide what [&hellip;]<\/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-60","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/irb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/60","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=60"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/irb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/60\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2346,"href":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/irb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/60\/revisions\/2346"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/irb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=60"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}