IRB an Institutional Review Board (IRB) Can

IRB An Institutional Review Board (IRB) can assist a graduate student in ensuring that his or her project is one that is viable and reasonable. The IRB is used in a variety of situations but overwhelmingly it is used to confirm, justify and provide support to those students seeking a higher degree than what can normally be considered the already fantastic achievement of graduating from college. Throughout the student's university career, a number of classroom projects will be completed in order for the student to graduate with a Bachelor's degree.

However, if the student aspires to an even higher standard, then that student must continue on the educational pathway, and the student will generally be called upon to create and complete a number of studies, papers and research. In order for the student to complete these assignments, oftentimes the student will be called upon to carryout extensive research. The IRB student research policy states in regard to that extensive research that the IRB is generally to be viewed as having a purpose to review research conducted using human subjects.

Because most research that is conducted for regular classroom projects will not involve the use of human subjects, most in-class projects will not require an IRB. As a recent study espouses "elaborate peer-review systems were developed over the years for assessing the scientific value of the applicant's research projects" (Thomson, Elgin, Hyman, Schrag, Knight, Kreiser, 2013, p. 102). The peer-review systems referred to into the Thomson et al. study are considered as strong examples of an IRB. According to Thomson et al.

"IRB members are to bring to bear in their assessment of research projects appropriate principles of respect for persons, beneficence, and justice" (p. 103). Applying for an IRB usually marks the determination of the student to follow certain rules, guidelines and standards that a 'regular' classroom project might not need to adhere to. The IRB is used to ensure that those guidelines and standards are met and maintained. For most research an IRB is required if the research being conducted is both systematic and generalizable.

In-classroom projects are generally not defined as systematic or generalizable. The IRB can be used to help verify the validity of a research proposal and regarding this researcher's project an IRB would assist in providing a map of how the researcher's current data and work can be extrapolated out into the future when the project is completed. The IRB can show that the research is on the right track and that it is both valid and verifiable.

The IRB will review the researcher's plans for the project, and it can help explain ways in which the researcher should be attentive to the rights and protections afforded any subjects or other.