Research Ethics/IRB
What is Research?
Research is a tool that we must use to improve the world with. Research is finding a solution to a problem by studying it. Research is what we call the form of disciplined inquiry that involves studying something in a planned manner and presenting it so that other inquirers can potentially replicate the process if they choose (Botan, Frey, & Kreps 2000). The first two definitions have come as epiphanies during my participation in a senior research methods course. At the beginning of the course, I must admit, I was reluctant to get fully submerged in research but as the class has progressed I have learned that research is more important and valuable than many people realize. Research is to be taken very seriously and is not something to be done on a whim. There are different types of research, methods used, and processes. Ethics in research are to be employed to ensure the validity and quality of the process.
Research Requirements
In order to keep research professional, there are different procedures a researcher must undergo before they initiate researching something. At Jackson State University, a student must first complete modules under a program that provides research ethics education. This program is called the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative. According to the website, the CITI program is a volunteer program whose goal is to develop and distribute high quality, peer reviewed educational resources designed to raise awareness to the Responsible Conduct of Research for all members of the research team. Another goal of the program is to maintain an educational website where participating organizations can design and roll out a customized curriculum for their investigators, students, staff, and administrators. As a student at Jackson State University, a research intensive university, I had to complete modules through the CITI certification program before I could conduct student research. The modules enlightened me on the history of research, research ethics, and research laws. Some of the most important modules that I was required to complete before conducting research include but are not limited to Students in Research, Defining Research with Human Subjects, Assessing Risk in Social and Behavioral Sciences, Conflicts of Interest, History and Ethical Principles and so forth.
There is another procedure that a student must go through to ensure the professionalism and ethics of research are carried out. The student must get an IRB form approved. IRB stands for Internal Review Board. During this process the student answers all types of questions about the purpose of the research and how it will be carried out. This form will not be approved if there are any questions or misunderstandings about the ethics of the project before it is conducted. The purpose of the IRB is to protect human subjects involved in research. There are different types of IRB’s. Some schools have IRB forms that must be approved by committees consisting of highly qualified and experienced researchers and others might have to be approved only by the chair of the committee. Jackson State University students’ forms only have to be approved by the chair. The form can be approved, denied, or given back to the student with suggestions and changes. I know the process first-hand because of working with my professor and IRB chair to get my research approved. It was not until I sent my form back the second time, after correcting it, sending it to my professor and changing it again, that she approved my study for me to conduct my research. This process really drove the importance of the IRB process to protect those participating in research and the practices of the investigator.
Reference
Botan, C. H., Frey, L. R., Kreps, G. L. (2000). Investigating communication: An introduction to research methods. Needham Heights, MA: Allyn & Bacon
Research is a tool that we must use to improve the world with. Research is finding a solution to a problem by studying it. Research is what we call the form of disciplined inquiry that involves studying something in a planned manner and presenting it so that other inquirers can potentially replicate the process if they choose (Botan, Frey, & Kreps 2000). The first two definitions have come as epiphanies during my participation in a senior research methods course. At the beginning of the course, I must admit, I was reluctant to get fully submerged in research but as the class has progressed I have learned that research is more important and valuable than many people realize. Research is to be taken very seriously and is not something to be done on a whim. There are different types of research, methods used, and processes. Ethics in research are to be employed to ensure the validity and quality of the process.
Research Requirements
In order to keep research professional, there are different procedures a researcher must undergo before they initiate researching something. At Jackson State University, a student must first complete modules under a program that provides research ethics education. This program is called the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative. According to the website, the CITI program is a volunteer program whose goal is to develop and distribute high quality, peer reviewed educational resources designed to raise awareness to the Responsible Conduct of Research for all members of the research team. Another goal of the program is to maintain an educational website where participating organizations can design and roll out a customized curriculum for their investigators, students, staff, and administrators. As a student at Jackson State University, a research intensive university, I had to complete modules through the CITI certification program before I could conduct student research. The modules enlightened me on the history of research, research ethics, and research laws. Some of the most important modules that I was required to complete before conducting research include but are not limited to Students in Research, Defining Research with Human Subjects, Assessing Risk in Social and Behavioral Sciences, Conflicts of Interest, History and Ethical Principles and so forth.
There is another procedure that a student must go through to ensure the professionalism and ethics of research are carried out. The student must get an IRB form approved. IRB stands for Internal Review Board. During this process the student answers all types of questions about the purpose of the research and how it will be carried out. This form will not be approved if there are any questions or misunderstandings about the ethics of the project before it is conducted. The purpose of the IRB is to protect human subjects involved in research. There are different types of IRB’s. Some schools have IRB forms that must be approved by committees consisting of highly qualified and experienced researchers and others might have to be approved only by the chair of the committee. Jackson State University students’ forms only have to be approved by the chair. The form can be approved, denied, or given back to the student with suggestions and changes. I know the process first-hand because of working with my professor and IRB chair to get my research approved. It was not until I sent my form back the second time, after correcting it, sending it to my professor and changing it again, that she approved my study for me to conduct my research. This process really drove the importance of the IRB process to protect those participating in research and the practices of the investigator.
Reference
Botan, C. H., Frey, L. R., Kreps, G. L. (2000). Investigating communication: An introduction to research methods. Needham Heights, MA: Allyn & Bacon