Activities Not Requiring IRB Review

Researchers unsure of whether their study is subject to IRB review should consult the decision charts made available by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Human Research Protections (hhs.gov). Researchers are also strongly encouraged to consult with the IRB chair (IRBchair@iona.edu) with any questions regarding activities that may require IRB review. 

As specified by the Office of Human Research Projections (hhs.gov), the IRB reviews all research involving human subjects.  

• According to 45 CFR 46, a human subject is "a living individual about whom an investigator (whether professional or student) conducting research: Obtains information or biospecimens through intervention or interaction with the individual, and uses, studies, or analyzes the information or biospecimens; or Obtains, uses, studies, analyzes, or generates identifiable private information or identifiable biospecimens." 
• According to 45 CFR 46, research is defined as “a systematic investigation, including research development, testing, and evaluation, designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge.” If information collected from qualifying activities will be disseminated in any public forum, it will be considered research. Examples of public forums include, but are not limited to, publications (including in the Iona library) and conference presentations (including Iona Scholars Day and Honors Thesis Day).  

Examples of the kinds of activities that may not be subject to IRB review include normal educational practices and strategies (such as innovative instructional techniques, alterations in curricula, and assessment of same), data collected to support the mission of the college (such as outcomes assessment), oral histories, and the use of archival or publicly available data. Furthermore, research involving queries and analyses of the following databases do not require an application: Center for Research in Security Prices databases (and all other publicly available, aggregate financial databases), Uniform Crime Reporting databases, United States Census databases, United States General Social Survey, World Value Survey and the National Study of the Changing Workforce. 

Again, if you have any questions regarding whether your study is subject to IRB review, please consult the IRB chair (IRBchair@iona.edu) before proceeding.