Institutional Review Board

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Ethical and Procedural Guidelines:

Human participants research at Drew University is guided by the ethical principles laid out in The Belmont Report and the procedures as described in the Department of Health and Human Services Policy for the Protection of Human Research Subjects (45 CFR, Subtitle A, Part 46).

Human Participants Research Oversight

All research involving human participants conducted at the university is subject to oversight by the Drew University Institutional Review Board (IRB). Research involving human participants must be reviewed annually, although some research may require more frequent review.

1. Research is defined as “a systematic investigation, including research development, testing and evaluation, designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge." 45 CFR, Subtitle A, Part 46.102d. Types of research that require review include:
   1. Both funded and un-funded research;
   2. Pilot studies;
   3. Class projects that will be submitted for publication;
   4. Masters theses and Ph.D. dissertations;
      
   5. Honors or senior theses involving human participants research;
   6. Independent research performed by faculty, students or staff.
   Note that this definition of research excludes classroom exercises or projects that have student learning as their primary objective. Such exercises are not subject to IRB oversight, and it is the responsibility of the instructor to be sure that student projects meet the institution's ethical and scientific standards.
2. A human participant is defined as a living individual about whom an investigator (whether professional or student) conducting research obtains either 1) data through intervention (e.g., physical procedures such as drawing blood in a medical experiment) or interaction with the individual; or 2) identifiable private information. 45 CFR, Subtitle A, Part 46.102f.

Note that this definition of a human participant excludes naturalistic observations made of individuals in public places. This type of activity involves no intervention, and reasonable people cannot assume that they will NOT be observed when they are in public places.

Students or instructors with questions may contact the IRB liaison from their school or program for guidance.

Instructions for Submitting Research for IRB Review:

Principal investigators can obtain instructions for submitting research for an IRB review here.

IRB Membership

Current members of the Drew University IRB are: 

• Jessica Lakin, Associate Professor of Psychology and IRB Chair
  
• Arthur Pressley, Associate Professor of Psychology and Religion (Theological School Liaison)
  
• Bill Rogers, Associate Dean of the Caspersen School of Graduate Studies (Caspersen School Liaison)
  
• Carl Savage, Director of the Doctor of Ministries Program (Doctor of Ministries Program Liaison)
• Scott Bonn, Assistant Professor of Sociology (Fall 2009)
• Melissa Sloan, Assistant Professor of Sociology and Behavioral Science (Spring 2010)
  
• Lois Levy, Adjunct Instructor in the Caspersen School of Graduate Studies
• Reverend Robb Shoaf, Pastor, United Methodist Church in Madison

The IRB members have completed the Human Subjects Assurance Training and the Human Participant Protections Education for Research Teams. All IRB members have also familiarized themselves with 45 CFR, Subtitle A, Part 46 and The Belmont Report.

Human Protections Administrator

• Provost Pamela Gunter-Smith

The Human Protections Administrator has completed Human Subjects Assurance Training and Human Participant Protections Education for Research Teams.