Research ethics and IRB submission process

Navigate institutional review board approval process. IRB submission components: 1. Research protocol: clear description of purpose, methods, participants, risks/benefits. 2. Informed consent form: written in lay language (8th grade level), includes right to withdraw, confidentiality procedures. 3. Recruitment materials: flyers, emails, scripts for participant recruitment. 4. Data management plan: how data will be collected, stored, de-identified, destroyed. 5. Risk assessment: minimal risk vs. greater than minimal risk determination. Common ethical considerations: 1. Vulnerable populations (children, prisoners, pregnant women) require additional protections. 2. Deception studies need debriefing procedures. 3. Online research needs privacy protections. 4. Data sharing requires participant consent. Expedited review: minimal risk studies using established procedures. Full board review: greater than minimal risk or sensitive topics. Timeline: allow 4-8 weeks for initial review.