The exemptions Marc describes are outlined in what is referred to as "The
Common Rule" created by the NSF. You can look at the full text of this
rule at
http://www.interact.nsf.gov/cise/html.nsf/html/common_rule?OpenDocument
I thought that collecting data (including performance on class assignments
and exams) to evaluate the benefits of a new class and/or new approach to
teaching a class (with the intent to use those data as potentially
publishable research) would fall under these exceptions but colleagues in
my department believed otherwise. I submitted my work to our IRB and was
required to obtain consent to use information as data from the students.
In addition, all activities included in the class for the purposes of data
collection (planned as ungraded check-off activities & assignments) had to
be offered as purely optional activities. The effect of these requirements
was that fewer than 20% of the class chose to do these optional activities,
seriously compromising the scientific value of the data my thesis student
and I were able to collect. Needless to say, after creating a new course
and planning to do what seemed to be the right thing (rigorously evaluate
the course outcomes), and seeing the quality of our efforts undermined by
this process was an incredibly frustrating experience. I understand the
potential problem of conflicts of interest if an instructor is so comitted
to a new course that he/she would intimidate or punish students who
performed poorly on outcome assessments. But just how likely is this risk?
Isn't the risk of wasting resources collecting data that are going to be
difficult to publish greater? What about the risk of not collecting data
at all and not knowing whether these new classes are of any use?
Your comments & suggested solutions are welcome.
With regard to student class projects, I write a proposal to our IRB to
request permission to conduct an expedited review of these projects (i.e.,
I act as the review committee for these projects). I outline the types of
studies typically done and populations used and promise to forward any
more-than-minimal-risk proposals to the committee for full review. (This
final provision is quite helpful when discussing with students what sorts
of projects they can and cannot do.)
Claudia
>From: "G. Marc Turner" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Reply-To: "G. Marc Turner" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Subject: RE: Ethics and In-Class Research
>
>One thing I'm curious about is where these exemptions actually came from.
>Since I've also seen them on IRB forms at other nearby institutions, I
>assume they were from some gov't entity.... and if so, does someone have a
>fuller explanation of what qualifies for the above exemptions?
>
>- Marc
>
>G. Marc Turner, MEd
________________________________________________________
Claudia J. Stanny, Ph.D. e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Department of Psychology Phone: (850) 474 - 3163
University of West Florida FAX: (850) 857 - 6060
Pensacola, FL 32514 - 5751
Web: http://www.uwf.edu/psych/stanny.html
