Classroom Projects vs. Research
Table of Contents
The purpose of this guideline is to clarify when classroom projects are and when they are not under the jurisdiction of the IRB. Furthermore, this proposal seeks to clarify the responsibilities of course instructors and IRB oversight.
Definitions
Classroom Projects:
- Assignments to fulfill course/major requirements which involve interactions with individuals.
- Typically initiated and completed within a single term.
- Designed to teach research methods through student interaction with individuals or data about individuals, or designed to help students understand concepts taught in the course.
- Generally, not intended to create new knowledge or to lead to scholarly publication. (University of Michigan)
Research:
A systematic collection of data from human subjects with the purpose to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge, which is clarified on the IRB website as:
- The information contributes to a theoretical framework of an established body of knowledge.
- The primary beneficiaries of research are other researchers, scholars, and practitioners in the field of study.
- Publication, presentation or other distribution of the results is intended to inform the field of study.
- Results are intended to be replicated in other settings (University of Michigan)
The following student driven projects are considered research:
- Undergraduate Theses presented at a professional venue.
- Honor’s Theses
- Master’s Theses
- Doctoral Dissertations
- Pilot studies
- A student-led classroom project that the instructor may use in his/her own research
Instructors’ Responsibilities
Instructors should meet with students as soon as possible and go over these guidelines to determine if the proposed class project could be considered research. If there is a possibility that a class project may fall under the definition of research, instructors are advised to submit an IRB application, and a qualified researcher (SOP GA 106), as the principal investigator. The student researcher would serve as a co-investigator.
If the class project meets the definition of research:
- The instructor should assist the student to prepare the appropriate human subjects review application.
- The instructor should ensure the student has obtained necessary reviews and signatures prior to submitting the application to the college representative to the IRB.
If the class project does not meet the definition of research:
- It is the responsibility of the instructor to ensure that the student project does not meet the definition of research.
- It is the responsibility of the instructor to ensure that the class project is conducted according to the ethical standards of the relevant discipline.
- Remember that from the participant’s viewpoint, giving out personal information does not differ for a class assignment or a research project. Personal information is personal information. Instructors should advise students to identify the project to participants as a class assignment and be sensitive to the personal nature of the obtained information. Labeling the class project as “research” is inaccurate and misleading to participants.
- Individuals providing information to students need to be informed that the projects are being conducted to meet a course requirement and that any data collected will not be made public.
- Students should inform participants that data will be destroyed soon after their assignment or class project is completed.
- Instructors are advised to tell students that data from human subjects should not contain any personal, identifying information whenever possible.
- The IRB is available to give feedback on any proposed class project not meeting the definition of research, even though the IRB would not officially act on the project.
- Any complaints about the project should be reported to and managed by, the instructor, department chair, and depending on the situation, officials of the college.
Special Considerations
Instructors should carefully scrutinize class assignments that involve protected populations or sensitive information.
Protected Populations include, but not limited to:
- Children/Minors (under the age of 18)
- Prisoners (now includes non-publicly available secondary data)
- Pregnant women
- Fetuses and products of labor and delivery
- People with diminished capacity to give consent
Sensitive Information include, but not limited to:
- Information relating to an individual’s psychological well-being or mental health Information relating to sexual attitudes, preferences, or practices
- Information relating to the use of alcohol or drugs
- Information relating to illegal behavior
- Information that if released could reasonably place the individual at risk of criminal or civil liability or be damaging to the individual’s financial standing, employability, or reputation
- Information that would normally be recorded in a patient’s medical record and the disclosure could reasonably lead to discrimination, stigmatization, etc.