Navigating the IRB while Conducting Research in Your Teaching Practice
What is the IRB?
The purpose of the Institutional Review Board (IRB) is to ensure that research involving human subjects is carried out ethically and to standard of federal regulations. Some of the things the IRB looks at include:
- Independently evaluates the risks and benefits of proposed research and makes sure the risk is minimal
- Ensures ethical procedures for recruiting and consenting human subjects during the research process
- Ensures confidentiality of data and other information obtained from research
At Northeastern, the Department of Human Research (DHR) is the primary point of contact for all IRB-related inquiries.
What does this have to do with education research?
In the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning or other education research, you may analyze artifacts produced by students (e.g., a reflection they write up as part of an assignment). Additionally, you might ask students to do something beyond what is required of them as part of the course, such as completing surveys or participating in focus groups. You may also look at other data sources in your course, such as the analytics from a learning management system. If you plan to do activities such as these in order to collect data from students or other individuals, these activities may be considered human subjects research if:
- It meets the regulatory definition of research as a systematic investigation designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge and
- Involves Human Subjects as defined as living individuals about whom an investigator conducting research obtains: (1) data through intervention or interaction with the individual; or (2) identifiable private information.
According to Northeastern University policy, no research involving human subjects can be undertaken until reviewed and approved by the IRB.
Most educational research, such as asking students to fill out a survey or analyzing pieces of student work, may be eligible for an exemption (see more information about exempt research here). However, this still requires that you fill out an exempt application for review by DHR (see more information here).
Below, we outline some considerations when determining whether IRB approval is necessary.
| IRB might not be needed (fill out an exempt self-determination form and consult with HSRP) | Application to IRB is likely needed | ||
| What is the purpose? | Who is the intended audience? | Data will be collected for internal purposes (e.g., to improve my teaching practices as I teach this course and other courses). | Data is used for research purposes meaning it is designed to be generalizable. Often submitting findings to a journal or other publication strongly suggests you may be doing research. (e.g., I aim to submit findings to a journal for publication). |
| How will data and other information be used? | |||
| How is data or other information from this project being shared? | Data is only being shared internally (e.g., co-instructors, TAs) because the results aren’t transferable beyond the limited context. | Data shared indicates anything about a student as an individual.Data is disseminated broadly with the intend of others using it because the activity is designed to be generalizable. |
If you’re unsure if your activity requires IRB review, please consider attending drop-in hours or review our Human subjects research determination form.
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