The Institutional Review Board (IRB) historically has a mixed reputation among researchers. When working as a research assistant in my undergraduate university, the IRB applications were viewed as extensive, confusing, and demanding. Even in informal discussions with my peers, their reactions to the IRB process were typically lukewarm. Some of them even stated that the IRB was like a roadblock when it came to their research.
After listening to their perspectives, I noticed that students who were unfamiliar with the IRB had similar questions and concerns: “Where do I start?” “How do I write an IRB protocol?” “When will I hear back from the IRB?” “Why is it taking so much time to review my application?” One common concern among students is waiting for the application to be approved, which may seem that students will have to wait for long periods of time before they can resume their projects. However, this process is an important step in research.
At Teachers College, the IRB office is in charge of reviewing student research applications. Studies can range from benign (giving participants a basic math test) to risky (taking blood from participants). Since studies can have varying levels of risk, the estimated time it takes to hear back from the IRB is 7 to 10 business days, typically for exempt and expedited research in which the protocols are minimal risk. Research that entails more than minimal risk requires full board review, which is reviewed in a monthly convened meeting of experts. Protocols that require full board approval are rare among student researchers but are more common in research in Clinical Psychology, Biobehavioral Studies, and Health and Behavior Studies programs. Regardless of your review category, students in all departments should prepare for the IRB review process.
Unlike academic assignments where you submit your project once to complete it, official research projects require frequent check-ins with IRB to ensure there is no deviation in the studies. This is especially crucial if they involve human subjects as careful consideration is required to ensure that their safety and ethics are accounted for. Although research projects are usually conducted towards the latter part of a graduate student’s academic career, it is always good to engage with the IRB as soon as possible to prepare for a successful process. Previous students have shared recommendations for new student researchers when working with the IRB. They advised to:
- Start the IRB process early, as having approval can determine when the study can receive funding for the project.
- Meet with IRB and attend their office hours with any questions you may have.
- Ensure you have a faculty sponsor to support the IRB protocol submission.
- Start your CITI training and use sample IRB protocols to guide your own.
- Find and use your resources that the IRB offers, such as taking time to navigate the website and reviewing past “Demystifying the IRB” slides
Conducting research should not be intimidating. Students who are flexible to working within the bounds of the federal and institutional regulations will be able to explore their topics of interest. Starting the IRB process early will allow you ample time to complete the IRB review process and collect data. Even if a project does not turn out as expected, it can still be a productive learning experience and become a guide for the next generation of the projects. However, to ensure data collection goes as smoothly as possible, any research study that involves human subjects requires careful consideration to account for a scoping review of participant safety and research compliance.
To ensure students have plenty of time to work on their projects, the IRB recommends that students develop their IRB submission timeline based on their graduation or dissertation timelines. Students should prepare to submit their IRB protocol for review at least one to two months prior to the actual start of their research activities. If all information is filled out correctly and accurately, the review process will be straightforward, and students will be able to start conducting research sooner. If you are unsure how to write an IRB application, use the template on the IRB website, use a sample from a previous research study, or use the IRB office hours for further assistance.
Another concern is the process of working with other schools or institutions. Many of TC’s students are interested in researching topics of education. As Teachers College’s IRB oversees the research compliance of its own students, Columbia University and other schools likely have their own IRB department. Students who wish to interact with participants from multiple schools must reach out to the respective IRB offices to check for additional policies that students will need to include in their protocols. In these cases, a reliance agreement may be essential to the study, as it is a mutual agreement of two or more institutions that are involved in the same human subjects research project. If you need assistance creating a reliance agreement, an appointment with the IRB is highly recommended.
Finally, another question is where research should be conducted. In most cases, research at TC is conducted on campus, usually completed in a preapproved, private, and distraction-free space. If the research site is easily accessible for TC students but not for non-TC participants, the researcher should ensure that they have access to the facilities and are provided with transportation opinions. For off-campus studies, a site permission form should be complete and uploaded with the IRB application. A signed site permission form will allow researchers access to off-campus sites. Researchers working at sites outside of TC must ensure that their participants are able to get to the location safely. If conducted on campus, researchers do not need a site permission form but must inform non-TC participants to adhere to the current visitor policy.
It may seem that working with the IRB is a tedious process, however, there are plenty of resources that can help student researchers navigate the process. IRB blogs offer rich insights catered to student researchers who are interested in learning more about a part of the process. In particular, I recommend starting with these:
As a student with a continued interest in research, I recognize that the IRB will be present in my research development. Meeting with the IRB is an important learning experience in graduate students’ research development. What is great about approved research is that it allows us to leave behind a legacy. Once we learn and understand all steps of the research process, we can take that role of sharing that knowledge with future student researchers.