Social Science and the IRB

Information from the National Science Foundation

Interpreting the Common Rule for the Protection of Human Subjects for Behavioral and Social Science Research: questions and responses.

Click on the applicable heading to go to a specific subject:

The Common Rule and Sub-Parts

Social Science and the Common Rule

Exempt and Expedited Review and Informed Consent

Problems and Advice on Dealing with them

Confidentiality-Privacy

Ethnography 

• Is ethnography covered by the Common Rule?
• Is ethnographic research exempt?
• Is written documentation of informed consent required in ethnographic research?
• How should IRBs proceed in reviewing ethnographic research?
• What is "group consent" and how is it relevant to informed consent?

Additional Information for Common types of Social Science Research

Qualitative Research

Ellis "Communicating Qualitative Research Study Designs to Research Ethics Review Boards"

Qualitative Research Methods: A DATA COLLECTOR’S FIELD GUIDE  © 2005 by Family Health International

Interviews, Surveys, Online Research

Focus Groups

Evolving Research

Observational Research