IRB Application

Institutional Review Board (IRB) Application

The IRB application becomes the permanent record of the researcher(s) compliance with laws and regulations protecting the rights and welfare of human research participants. Sufficient detail of the proposed protocol must be included to permit the IRB to render a decision about whether the safeguards in the research protocol protect the rights and welfare of human participants and benefits justify any risks. Applications with insufficient detail will be returned, without review.

Student researchers must obtain faculty advisor review, approval and signature prior to IRB submission. Consult with your research supervisor for more information on research protocols that may be considered exempt, qualify for expedited review, or require standard IRB review.

Before You Begin
Gather everything you will need to fill out this form before starting, you will not be able to save along the way. Download a copy of the Application Packet and read it in it's entirety before starting.

Identifying Information
Principal Researcher*
FirstLast
Additional Researchers
(separate with commas)
Instructor*
Course*
Semester*
Faculty Advisor*
Project Title*
Principal Researcher’s Position at Sierra Nevada College*
- Professor
- Advanced Degree Candidate/Student
- Undergraduate
Principal Researcher Contact Information
Address*
Street AddressAddress Line 2CityState / Province / RegionZIP / Postal CodeCountry
Phone*
Email*

Category that best describes your research*
- Master’s Thesis/Project
- Undergraduate Research
- Faculty or Staff Professional/Academic Research
- SNC Institutional Research
Schedule of Research
State when (approximate dates) and where the activities involving human participants will take place. The beginning date must follow IRB approval. If location(s) require permission, attach authorization letters.
Start Date*
End Date*

Purpose(s) of research*
Include research questions and key variables. Submit abstract.
Procedure*
Briefly describe sample size, characteristics of sample participants, methods and procedures involving human participants.

Management of Personal Information
Will your experiment involve questionnaires?*
- Yes
- No
Are the questionnaires anonymous? *
- Yes
- No
Briefly describe questionnaire content*
Attach questionnaire*
Allowed formats: doc, docx, pdf, zip
Describe measures to manage custody of data and maintain confidentiality and/or anonymity*

Personal Safety
Will your experiment require physical exertion from participants?*
- Yes
- No
If participants are required to complete physical activities, explain why and describe the activity:*
Describe risks, measures to reduce risks, and measures to screen participants for high risk of injury:*
Explain why benefits of study justify these risks:*

Counseling Services
Does the study have a risk of eliciting emotional disturbances in the participants?*
- Yes
- No
If there is an emotional risk to participants, describe counseling services you will offer or require after the experiment:*
Explain how the benefits of study justify these risks:*

Consent
Are the participants aware of their involvement in the project?*
- Yes
- No
If participants are aware, are they also aware of the study’s purpose?*
- Yes
- No
Explain the depth of explanation of the study to participants:*
Do you explicitly ask participants for their consent to be in the project?*
- Yes
- No
If so, attach a consent form*
Download Sample Consent Form

Population Concerns
Does your study involve participation from individuals selected from a vulnerable population?*
- Yes
- No
If so, take care to observe this in your consent form and arrange for the additional signatures of a parent/legal guardian and appropriate witness (principal, teacher, etc.).
Which of the following vulnerable populations are included in your study*
- Children and/or adolescents (anyone under the age of 18)
- Persons with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities
- Frail Older Adults
- Adults with Physical Disability or Mental Illness
- Adults with legal guardians
- Specific targeted racial subgroups or ethnic backgrounds
- Other special populations targeted in the study protocol
To your knowledge, if collecting data from a sample of a special population (e.g., prisoner populations, people with legal guardians, those under the age of 18, etc.), are there any relevant laws or regulations? If so, explain how your research design addresses these laws or regulations.*
If your study includes participants from vulnerable populations, describe how your protocol protects or accommodates their special vulnerabilities.*
If your study’s sample targets specific racial or ethnic minorities, explain why this is necessary. Further, describe how language and cultural sensitivity issues are addressed in your protocol. *
Briefly describe the training and experience that qualifys you to carry out the proposed research involving more than a minimal risk to participants or including vulnerable populations.*

Debriefing
If sensitive issues are raised in your research protocol or if deception is used, describe the nature of any debriefing of participants. If not providing a debriefing session, state “No debriefing” and justify your decision.*
Describe any protocol(s) for providing participants with additional, pertinent, information subsequent to their contribution.*

Documentation
Copywritten Materials List*
List the title(s) and attach copies of any copyrighted tests, questionnaires, or other material to be used in your study. Attach below evidence of permission to use the copyrighted material (i.e., purchase invoice, letter, or email from author or publisher). If security or copyright prohibits attachment, explain. If none of these documents are to be used, state “No copyrighted tests or questionnaires.”
Other Attachments List*
Other potential and necessary attachments (when incorporated as part of your study) include letters of approval from participating organizations on official letterhead, all other specially designed or public domain tests, interview protocols, questionnaires, etc.
Supplemental Files
Formats allowed: zip, doc, docx

Submission
*
- I have read the General Requirements for Informed Consent.
*
- I have read pages 1-8 of the Application Packet.

Resources

Institutional Review Board (IRB) Application

Step 1 of 12

Before You Begin

Identifying Information

Principal Researcher Contact Information

Schedule of Research

Management of Personal Information

Personal Safety

Counseling Services

Consent

Population Concerns

Debriefing

Documentation

Submission