Institutional Review Board

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. The IRB evaluates the ethical implications of the proposed research, assessing factors such as risk versus benefit, informed consent, and the overall impact on participants. Their role is crucial in maintaining ethical standards and promoting trust in research practices.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. IRBs are mandated by federal regulations in the United States for any research involving human subjects that is federally funded.
2. The review process by an IRB includes assessing the risk of harm to participants and ensuring that risks are minimized and justified by potential benefits.
3. An IRB can approve, require modifications to, or disapprove research studies based on ethical considerations.
4. Members of an IRB typically include researchers, ethicists, and community representatives to provide diverse perspectives on the ethical implications of research.
5. Failure to obtain IRB approval can result in serious consequences for researchers, including loss of funding and inability to publish findings.

Review Questions

• How does an Institutional Review Board assess the ethical implications of proposed research involving human subjects?
  • An Institutional Review Board assesses the ethical implications by examining various factors such as potential risks to participants, the adequacy of informed consent processes, and the scientific merit of the study. They ensure that risks are minimized and justified by anticipated benefits, promoting ethical standards in research. This assessment helps protect participants' rights and welfare while fostering trust in the research process.
• Discuss the importance of informed consent in the context of research reviewed by an Institutional Review Board.
  • Informed consent is vital because it ensures that participants understand the nature of the research, including any risks involved, before agreeing to take part. An Institutional Review Board closely examines how researchers plan to obtain informed consent to ensure that participants are fully aware of their rights and can make an educated choice about participation. This process reinforces ethical standards in human subjects research and helps safeguard participant autonomy.
• Evaluate the role of Institutional Review Boards in maintaining ethical standards within media effects research involving human subjects.
  • Institutional Review Boards play a critical role in upholding ethical standards in media effects research by rigorously reviewing study designs that involve human participants. By evaluating potential risks and ensuring that ethical guidelines are followed, IRBs help protect vulnerable populations who may be influenced by media content. Their oversight is essential for building public trust in media studies and ensuring that findings contribute positively without compromising participant welfare.

Related terms

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

Ethical Guidelines: A set of principles designed to guide researchers in conducting studies responsibly and ethically, protecting the rights and dignity of participants.

Human Subjects Research: Research that involves collecting data from or about individuals, which requires careful ethical consideration and oversight.