If a study is designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge, and if it involves obtaining information from or about living individuals, the project requires advance IRB approval.
Such projects include funded and non-funded questionnaire, interview, qualitative, secondary, and experimental research. Pilot projects need review. In-class exercises done wholly for pedagogical purposes need not be submitted for prior IRB review, and institutional research that is not disseminated externally does not require approval. Research conducted by faculty, staff and students needs IRB approval.
