Institutional Review Board

Definition

An Institutional Review Board (IRB) is a committee established to review and approve research involving human subjects, ensuring ethical standards are met and participants' rights are protected. It plays a critical role in safeguarding confidentiality and anonymity, as it evaluates research proposals for potential risks to participants and enforces guidelines that promote ethical treatment in studies.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. IRBs are mandated by federal regulations in the United States to review research proposals involving human subjects to ensure ethical conduct.
2. An IRB must include members from diverse backgrounds, including at least one member with scientific expertise and one with non-scientific expertise, to provide balanced evaluations.
3. The primary focus of an IRB is to protect the rights and welfare of research participants, emphasizing the importance of minimizing risks and maximizing benefits.
4. Researchers must submit detailed protocols to the IRB, including information on how confidentiality and anonymity will be maintained throughout the research process.
5. If an IRB identifies concerns with a research proposal, it has the authority to request modifications, disapprove the study, or impose additional requirements to protect participants.

Review Questions

• How does the Institutional Review Board contribute to the ethical conduct of research involving human subjects?
  • The Institutional Review Board plays a crucial role in promoting ethical conduct in research by reviewing proposals for potential risks to participants and ensuring their rights are protected. It evaluates informed consent processes, confidentiality measures, and overall study design. By enforcing ethical standards, the IRB helps researchers minimize harm and respect participant autonomy, which is vital for maintaining public trust in the research process.
• Discuss the implications of an IRB's decision on a research proposal regarding participant confidentiality and anonymity.
  • An IRB's decision on a research proposal significantly impacts how researchers approach participant confidentiality and anonymity. If an IRB identifies potential risks in maintaining confidentiality or protecting participant identities, it may require researchers to enhance their data protection strategies or modify their study design. This scrutiny ensures that participants can engage in research without fear of their personal information being compromised, which is essential for ethical research practices.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of Institutional Review Boards in safeguarding human subjects' rights and confidentiality in contemporary research environments.
  • Institutional Review Boards are generally effective in safeguarding human subjects' rights and confidentiality, but challenges remain in contemporary research environments. The increasing complexity of data collection methods, such as online surveys and digital health technologies, raises new ethical concerns regarding data security and privacy. By continuously adapting their review processes to address emerging issues and incorporating stakeholder feedback, IRBs can enhance their effectiveness and maintain public confidence in research ethics. However, ongoing training and awareness of evolving ethical standards are essential for IRBs to keep pace with advancements in research methodologies.

Related terms

Informed Consent: The process by which researchers obtain voluntary agreement from participants to take part in a study after providing all relevant information about the research.

Ethics Review: The evaluation process conducted by an IRB to assess the ethical implications of proposed research, ensuring compliance with established guidelines.

Confidentiality: The ethical principle that requires researchers to protect participants' private information from unauthorized access or disclosure.