IRB Is Responsible for Ensuring That All

¶ … IRB is responsible for ensuring that all studies conducted using its facilities are conducted in adherence to the applicable laws and regulations governing the use of human subjects. The IRB wishes to be certain that the study conforms to its own internal policies and procedures as well. The IRB is also responsible for quality assurance with respect to the survey.

The purpose of the study is to determine what correlation, if any, there is between one's political affiliation and one's view on a proposed surtax on those earning more than $1 million. The study will consist of four or five questions to gather demographic information, determine the view on the surtax, and then determine the political affiliation.

Slide Three: The subjects will be chosen at random from across the country from a purchased list. A large sample size (1000) will be used in order to ensure statistical validity. The tax plan will be explained for around 15-20 seconds so that the people responding understand what they are giving their opinion on. The survey will be subject to regression analysis to determine the correlation between the dependent variable (views on the surtax) and the independent variable (political affiliation).

Slide Four: This type of study has been in existence for at least fifty years. The methodology proposed is therefore one that is commonplace in political polling and is widely accepted both by political entities and by media entities as well. We believe that we will be able to report specific findings and a rate of error. The use of a quantitative study will allow the results to be extrapolated to the American population at large.

Slide Five: The null hypothesis is that political affiliation does impact one's opinion of the millionaire surtax. The alternative hypothesis is that one's political affiliation does not impact one's opinion of the millionaire surtax. Although there are three political options -- Republican, Democrat or independent -- the primary focus will be on the differences between those identifying as either Republican or Democrat. If the difference in correlation is within the statistical margin of error, the null hypothesis will be disproved.