SONA
All research activities involving human subjects that will be posted to the university’s SONA system must receive Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval or a formal determination (e.g., Exempt determination or Not Human Subjects Research determination) before the study is posted and participants are recruited.
Investigators may not advertise, recruit, or begin data collection through SONA until IRB review is complete and written approval (or determination) has been issued. Posting a study on SONA constitutes recruitment and therefore requires prior IRB review.
When submitting your IRB application, please clearly indicate that you intend to recruit participants through SONA. The study posted on SONA must be consistent with the IRB-approved protocol, including:
- Study title
- Study description
- Eligibility criteria
- Recruitment materials and language
- Duration and procedures
- Compensation or course credit information
Any subsequent changes to the SONA study listing (including study description, eligibility criteria, procedures, or compensation) must be submitted to the IRB as a modification and approved prior to implementation.
Failure to obtain IRB approval prior to posting on SONA may constitute noncompliance with institutional human subjects policies.
If you have questions about whether your project requires IRB review before posting to SONA, please contact the IRB office for guidance.