Describe the proposed investigation, including the purpose of the research. What is the rationale?
Example: Beginning in 2010, the Arkansas Department of Education mandated that economics is to be a required course in the high school curriculum. Up until this year, economics was offered as an elective in many high school social studies curricula. School districts have the choice to include economics in their social studies curriculum or their business and career planning curriculum. Most schools have taken a social studies approach, pairing economics and civics into one semester classes for ninth grade Arkansas students. This change in state educational mandates creates an opportunity to assess the effectiveness of students’ exposure to economics and personal finance before getting to college on their performance in a college level personal finance course. The purpose of this study is to estimate the impact that early exposure to economics and personal finance has on students in a college-level Personal Finance course.
Describe how the study is designed (surveys, interviews, focus groups, etc.) and how the researcher plans to interact with the participants.
Example: Data will be collected via student surveys in all Personal Finance courses offered at SAU during Fall 2015 and Spring 2016 semesters. After the Spring grades are submitted, data collection will be completed electronically via email, and statistical analyses will be conducted throughout the summer of 2016.
Describe the proposed participants (age, sex, race, or other special characteristics, such as students in a specific class, etc.) as well as how the participants are to be selected/recruited.
For qualitative research, use the Individual Informed Consent Form to obtain consent. For quantitative research, use the language, “Participation in this study is completely voluntary and participants may withdraw from the study at any time without penalty,” on the survey and any recruitment materials to the participants.
See Individual Informed Consent for a sample consent form for individual participants.
Example: Proposed participants include all students enrolled in FIN 2003 (Personal Finance) in Fall 2015 and Spring 2016 semesters. Students enrolled in FIN 2003 will be given a Release and Consent form asking permission to use their final grades and survey answers in the study. Student identities will be kept anonymous using a numeric system to track attendance and grades. A copy of the Release and Consent form and a copy of the survey are attached to this application.
Are you doing research at a specific organization(s)? If so, describe the organization(s) where the research will be conducted. If not, just write “not applicable for research” here.
If research is being conducted at a specific organization(s), a signed Organization Informed Consent Form for each organization is required, which identifies that you have permission from an appropriate supervisor or administrator at the location, such as a principal or company supervisor.
See Organization Informed Consent for a sample consent form for organizational participants.
Are the benefits of the research greater than the risks to human participants? If the risk to the human participants is greater than the benefits, explain how this risk will be mitigated.
Example: No experimental activities will be included in this study, and the benefits of the research are greater than the risks.
What provisions will you take for keeping research data confidential?
Example: No student names will be included in the data set. Students will be identified through a numbering or coding system. All data will be safeguarded on a password protected computer in a locked faculty office.
Is there anything else you would like the IRB to know?
Investigators’ Assurance
I/We certify that all project investigators listed above have navigated Indiana Tech’s IRB web site and have read its policies and procedures.
I/We agree to follow all applicable university policies and procedures of federal, state, and local guidance regarding the protection of human participants in research, professional practice standards, and generally accepted good research practice guidelines for investigators. This includes all pre- and post-approval processes and requirements.
I/We will initiate the research only after written approval has been received from the IRB.
I/We will promptly report to the IRB events that may represent unanticipated problems involving risks to participants or others within 48 hours, using the Adverse or Unexpected Event Report form, which can be found on the IRB web site.
I/We will submit a Post-Approval Change Form to the IRB in case of any modifications in the research or informed consent process prior to changes being implemented.
I/We understand that the IRB approval expires in 12 months. If data collection is not complete within that timeframe, I/We will seek an extension of IRB approval, using the Post-Approval Change Form, at least a month before the initial approval expires.
I/We will maintain and protect research-related records for at least three years after the research has ended.
I, the co-investigator, understand that my professor should review this application before submission. I will hit the “Save and Continue Later” button below and send the link to the professor (or supervising faculty) to review and approve this application before submission.
I, the co-investigator, will sign this document on behalf of the Principal Investigator only after my professor has reviewed this application.
Once submitted, your in-progress form will no longer be available for further changes. Updates to your request will need to be submitted in a new application form.