What is considered “research”?

Research is defined as: systematic investigation of a topic that is intended to contribute to generalizable knowledge. Activities under this definition are considered research even if they are not funded.

How do I submit my research study for approval to the IRB?

Please visit the Pomona College Sponsored Research Page for the most up-to-date forms.

What is exempt research?

A research study may be considered exempt by the IRB, if it falls into one of the 8 categories below; a researcher must read and select the category his/her research falls into in their IRB application. *It is extremely important to note than no researcher can determine whether his/her research is exempt. Even if a researcher believes his/her research is exempt, they must still submit an application to the IRB for review. The below categories serve to assist a researcher in assessing which form (exempt or non-exempt) to submit to the IRB as well as which category of exemption his/her study may fall. If the IRB determines that research does not fulfill the requirements for exemption, the researcher will be notified to complete the non-exempt form.

Exemption Categories

Normal Educational Settings

Research, conducted in established or commonly accepted educational settings that specifically involves normal educational practices that are not likely to adversely impact students’ opportunity to learn required educational content or the assessment of educators who provide instruction.

***For example: most research on regular and special education instructional strategies, and research on the effectiveness of or the comparison among instructional techniques, curricula, or classroom management methods.

Educational Tests and Survey Procedures

Research that only includes interactions involving educational tests (cognitive, diagnostic, aptitude, achievement), survey procedures, interview procedures, or observation of public behavior (including visual or auditory recording) if at least one of the following criteria is met:

  1. The information obtained is recorded by the investigator in such a manner that the identity of the human subjects cannot readily be ascertained, directly or through identifiers linked to the subjects;
  2. Any disclosure of the human subjects’ responses outside the research would not reasonably place the subjects at risk of criminal or civil liability or be damaging to the subjects’ financial standing, employability, educational advancement, or reputation; or
  3. The information obtained is recorded by the investigator in such a manner that the identity of the human subjects can readily be ascertained, directly or through identifiers linked to the subjects, and an IRB conducts a limited IRB review to make the determination required by §__.111(a)(7)

Benign Interventions with Adults Only

Research involving benign behavioral interventions in conjunction with the collection of information from an adult subject through verbal or written responses (including data entry) or audiovisual recording if the subject prospectively agrees to the intervention and information collection and at least one of the following criteria is met:

  1. The information obtained is recorded by the investigator in such a manner that the identity of the human subjects cannot readily be ascertained, directly or through identifiers linked to the subjects;
  2. Any disclosure of the human subjects’ responses outside the research would not reasonably place the subjects at risk of criminal or civil liability or be damaging to the subjects’ financial standing, employability, educational advancement, or reputation; or
  3. The information obtained is recorded by the investigator in such a manner that the identity of the human subjects can readily be ascertained, directly or through identifiers linked to the subjects, and an IRB conducts a limited IRB review to make the determination required by §__.111(a)(7).

*For the purpose of this provision, “benign behavioral interventions” are brief in duration, harmless, painless, not physically invasive, not likely to have a significant adverse lasting impact on the subjects, and the investigator has no reason to think the subjects will find the interventions offensive or embarrassing. Provided all such criteria are met, examples of such benign behavioral interventions would include having the subjects play an online game, having them solve puzzles under various noise conditions, or having them decide how to allocate a nominal amount of received cash between themselves and someone else.

* If the research involves deceiving the subjects regarding the nature or purposes of the research, this exemption is not applicable unless the subject authorizes the deception through a prospective agreement to participate in research in circumstances in which the subject is informed that he or she will be unaware of or misled regarding the nature or purposes of the research.

Secondary Research

Secondary research for which consent is not required: Secondary research uses of identifiable private information or identifiable biospecimens, if at least one of the following criteria is met:

  1. The identifiable private information or identifiable biospecimens are publicly available;
  2. Information, which may include information about biospecimens, is recorded by the investigator in such a manner that the identity of the human subjects cannot readily be ascertained directly or through identifiers linked to the subjects, the investigator does not contact the subjects, and the investigator will not re-identify subjects;
  3. The research involves only information collection and analysis involving the investigator’s use of identifiable health information when that use is regulated under 45 CFR parts 160 and 164, subparts A and E, for the purposes of “health care operations” or “research” as those terms are defined at 45 CFR 164.501 or for “public health activities and purposes” as described under 45 CFR 164.512(b); or
  4. The research is conducted by, or on behalf of, a Federal department or agency using government-generated or government-collected information obtained for non-research activities, if the research generates identifiable private information that is or will be maintained on information technology that is subject to and in compliance with section 208(b) of the E-Government Act of 2002, 44 U.S.C. 3501 note, if all of the identifiable private information collected, used, or generated as part of the activity will be maintained in systems of records subject to the Privacy Act of 1974, 5 U.S.C. 552a, and, if applicable, the information used in the research was collected subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.

Public Service Programs

Research and demonstration projects that are conducted or supported by a Federal department or agency, or otherwise subject to the approval of department or agency heads (or the approval of the heads of bureaus or other subordinate agencies that have been delegated authority to conduct the research and demonstration projects), and that are designed to study, evaluate, improve, or otherwise examine public benefit or service programs, including procedures for obtaining benefits or services under those programs, possible changes in or alternatives to those programs or procedures, or possible changes in methods or levels of payment for benefits or services under those programs.

For example: internal studies by Federal employees, and studies under contracts or consulting arrangements, cooperative agreements, or grants.

Consumer Food and Taste Evaluation

Taste and food quality evaluation and consumer acceptance studies:

  1. If wholesome foods without additives are consumed, or
  2. If a food is consumed that contains a food ingredient at or below the level and for a use found to be safe, or agricultural chemical or environmental contaminant at or below the level found to be safe, by the Food and Drug Administration or approved by the Environmental Protection Agency or the Food Safety and Inspection Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Storage/Maintenance of Secondary Research

Storage or maintenance for secondary research for which broad consent is required: Storage or maintenance of identifiable private information or identifiable biospecimens for potential secondary research use if an IRB conducts a limited IRB review and makes the determinations required by §__.111(a)(8).

Broad Consent Secondary Research

Secondary research for which broad consent is required: Research involving the use of identifiable private information or identifiable biospecimens for secondary research use, if the following criteria are met:

  1. Broad consent for the storage, maintenance, and secondary research use of the identifiable private information or identifiable biospecimens was obtained in accordance with §__.116(a)(1) through (4), (a)(6), and (d);
  2. Documentation of informed consent or waiver of documentation of consent was obtained in accordance with §__.117;
  3. An IRB conducts a limited IRB review and makes the determination required by §__.111(a)(7) and makes the determination that the research to be conducted is within the scope of the broad consent referenced in paragraph (d)(8)(i) of this section; and(iv) The investigator does not include returning individual research results to subjects as part of the study plan. This provision does not prevent an investigator from abiding by any legal requirements to return individual research results.

When can I start collecting data?

You cannot start collecting data until you receive confirmation of approval from the IRB at Pomona College.

What does it mean for data collection to be anonymous?

Data is anonymous when a participant’s identify cannot be discovered. This can mean that there is no record of their name in association with any answers, physiological samples, etc. that they have provided over the course of their research participation.

What does it mean for data collection to be confidential?

Data is confidential when a participant’s responses or physiological data, as well as their identity, is kept in a secured and protected environment, such that no one other than the researcher has access to the information. Researchers must abide by strict rules surrounding confidentiality, in that they cannot discuss participant information with others outside of their research lab. Even minors are protected by confidentiality, meaning that even their own parents cannot demand access to their responses or data provided in a research study. Legal parents/guardians must of course, give consent for their children to participate, and they are informed of these rules surrounding confidentiality prior to giving consent for their child’s participation.