All research involving human subjects requires approval from the IRB. Please follow the three steps below and allow two to four weeks for the IRB review process.
1. Complete an Application Form
Form A: Research conducted by individual Agnes Scott faculty, students or staff. (DOC 43 KB)
Form B: Research conducted by individuals external to Agnes Scott. (DOC 40 KB)
Form C: Research conducted as part of an Agnes Scott class assignment. (DOC 42 KB)
For Form C:
- All students must receive the same assignment and use the same research design. Otherwise, please select Category A.
- Review the IRB instructor guidelines (PDF 53 KB).
2. Disclose Your Research Instruments
If you intend to use a research instrument (e.g. a written or online survey, elicitation images or words, etc.) to collect data from human subjects, you must include this with your application materials.
Review the survey guidelines (PDF 16 KB).
3. Prepare an Informed Consent Form
If you are collecting information that can be linked to a particular human subject, or if you are interacting with the human subject, you will need an informed consent form. Informed consent forms are necessary to demonstrate that human subjects have agreed to participate in a research project. For example, informed consent is required for interviews, and whenever a human subject is being audio-recorded or video-recorded.
Informed consent form checklist (PDF 32 KB)
Sample consent form (PDF 32 KB)
Sample consent form for online surveys (PDF 20 KB)
Once IRB approval is granted, the researcher will distribute informed consent forms, to be signed by both the human subject and the researcher. One copy will be given to the human subject and another copy will be retained by the researcher.
When are informed consent forms unnecessary?
Informed consent forms are unnecessary when research is being conducted anonymously or unobtrusively.
- Anonymous research is when data is collected on human subjects whose identity is unknown to the researcher (for example, anonymous surveys).
- Unobtrusive research is when the researcher observes human subjects from a distance and does not interact with them (or when the researcher uses documents or other materials with information about human subjects).
If you are unsure if informed consent is necessary, contact the IRB at
irb@agnesscott.edu.