Hi This lawyer has more sense than many psychologists who tolerate rather than fight ridiculous ethics practices. It is silly to think that when a student wants to ask a few questions of a professor (or of any adult for that fact), even if it is research, the professor (adult) somehow needs protecting by an IRB.
Take care Jim James M. Clark Professor of Psychology 204-786-9757 204-774-4134 Fax [EMAIL PROTECTED] >>> [EMAIL PROTECTED] 14-Sep-06 12:12:00 PM >>> When I served on the IRB at my previous institution, we had a lawyer on the committee. She informed us that surveys (such as this one?) are not too much of a concern with most IRBs in terms of legal liability because the potential respondent can simply choose not to reply. And if one does reply, they are, by virtue of responding, agreeing to the "terms of the survey". Just my two cents (without much authority. -S On Sep 14, 2006, at 1:04 PM, DeVolder Carol L wrote: > Dear TIPSters, > This morning, I received the following e-mail: > > Greetings! > My name is ___. I am an undergraduate student majoring in psychology. > I have a project that requires me to interview an experimental > psychologist. I was browsing through the net and came across your > profile and thought of writing to you. I won't be wasting much of your > time, but I would be greatly obliged if you can kindly answer these > five questions, as an experimental psychologist. > > How did you get started in psychology? > > Who was your most important mentor during the early part of your > psychology career, and why? > > What are the current major trends in experimental research in > psychology, and what should we look forward to learning more about in > the coming decade? > > What two or three items are absolutely essential for every > undergraduate student in psychology to know about experimental > methods? > > What are the job opportunities available for a student looking forward > to pursue his/her career in experimental or statistical psychology? > > Thank you heaps! > _____ . > > > > I'm not all that suspicious, and tend to be somewhat naiive, but I'm > developing a cynical streak, so I answered with this: > > Hello, > I would like to answer your questions, but cannot do so until you > identify the institution you're affiliated with and whether you have > IRB approval for your study. I'm sure you understand. > Carol DeVolder > > > The response I got was this: > > Hello, > I'm studying in University of _____ University College. My professor > is okay with students interviewing an experimental psychologists > through email. Please do reply. Thank you! > > I've left out the identifying names, but I'm now perplexed. I'm kind > of a stickler for IRB approval, but wondering if my cynical streak is > getting too big. Any comments? > > Carol > > > > > > Carol DeVolder, Ph.D. > Professor of Psychology > Chair, Department of Psychology > St. Ambrose University > Davenport, Iowa 52803 > > phone: 563-333-6482 > e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > (By the way, I'm still planning on compiling the responses I got when > I posted my plea for help under the subject line "My brain is > fried..." Things just haven't slowed enough for me to do it yet, and > once I thanked you all for replying but encouraged more replies, > responses dropped off dramatically. But thanks again for coming > through.) > > > > --- > To make changes to your subscription go to: > > http://acsun.frostburg.edu/cgi-bin/lyris.pl? > enter=tips&text_mode=0&lang=english > ======================================================== Steven M. Specht, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Psychology Utica College Utica, NY 13502 (315) 792-3171 "Mice may be called large or small, and so may elephants, and it is quite understandable when someone says it was a large mouse that ran up the trunk of a small elephant" (S. S. Stevens, 1958) --- To make changes to your subscription go to: http://acsun.frostburg.edu/cgi-bin/lyris.pl?enter=tips&text_mode=0&lang=english --- To make changes to your subscription go to: http://acsun.frostburg.edu/cgi-bin/lyris.pl?enter=tips&text_mode=0&lang=english
