Institutional Review Board (IRB)

Definition

An Institutional Review Board (IRB) is a committee established to review and approve research involving human subjects, ensuring that their rights and welfare are protected. IRBs evaluate the ethical considerations of a study, assessing potential risks and benefits to participants, and ensuring compliance with federal regulations. They play a crucial role in maintaining ethical standards in research, particularly in sensitive fields such as psychology, where participant vulnerability can be significant.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. IRBs are required by federal law for any research involving human subjects that is conducted or supported by government agencies.
2. The main purpose of an IRB is to ensure the ethical treatment of research participants by reviewing study proposals and monitoring ongoing research.
3. IRBs consist of a diverse group of individuals, including scientists, non-scientists, and community members, to provide a well-rounded perspective on research ethics.
4. An IRB has the authority to approve or disapprove research protocols based on ethical considerations and may require modifications before granting approval.
5. The IRB process helps to foster public trust in research by ensuring that the rights and welfare of participants are prioritized and safeguarded.

Review Questions

• How do Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) contribute to ethical research practices in studies involving vulnerable populations?
  • IRBs play a critical role in ethical research by closely reviewing studies that involve vulnerable populations, such as those with mental health issues. They assess potential risks and benefits specifically related to these groups and require additional safeguards to protect participants from exploitation or harm. By ensuring informed consent processes are thorough and ethical guidelines are followed, IRBs help maintain the integrity of research while prioritizing the well-being of vulnerable individuals.
• Evaluate the impact of the IRB approval process on the quality of psychological research conducted in academic settings.
  • The IRB approval process significantly impacts the quality of psychological research by enforcing ethical standards that researchers must adhere to before conducting their studies. This rigorous review encourages researchers to design studies that prioritize participant safety and ethical considerations, often resulting in more thoughtful research methodologies. By ensuring compliance with ethical guidelines, IRBs enhance the credibility of findings and help safeguard against misconduct or harm to participants.
• Discuss the implications of failing to adhere to IRB regulations for researchers and their institutions within the context of abnormal psychology.
  • Failing to adhere to IRB regulations can have severe implications for researchers and their institutions, particularly in abnormal psychology where participant vulnerability is heightened. Such failures may result in harm to participants, legal repercussions, loss of funding, and damage to the institution's reputation. Additionally, unethical practices can undermine public trust in psychological research as a whole, leading to broader skepticism regarding the validity and reliability of findings within the field.

Related terms

Informed Consent: A process through which researchers provide potential participants with comprehensive information about a study, allowing them to make an educated decision about their involvement.

Ethical Guidelines: Standards set by professional organizations that dictate ethical behavior in research, including principles such as beneficence, non-maleficence, autonomy, and justice.

Risk-Benefit Analysis: An evaluation process that compares the potential risks of participating in research against the expected benefits to ensure that the study is ethically justified.