The Research Summary should be a typed document written specifically for the review of the IRB and should be submitted with an Application for Review and any other required materials via the online web form located here. You may type directly into this Word Document to answer the questions. Grant applications and M.A. or Ph.D. proposals are not an appropriate substitute for the Research Summary. The Research Summary must be written in language entirely accessible to the lay person, without technical jargon, and must include the following information in numbered sections under the following headings:
1. The title of the research and the name of the principal investigator
2. The research question or questions under investigation and the explanation or hypothesis that will be tested
3. The methods that will be used to test the research hypothesis, including a copy of any questionnaires or surveys that will be administered
4. An assessment of the benefits of the project, including its contribution to scientific knowledge and any direct benefits it may offer to the participants
5. An assessment of the risks to participants and how they will be handled
6. The nature of the participant group to be studied, including: a) how the participants will be chosen b) how the participants will be recruited c) whether or not the participants will be personally identified d) what the participants will be told regarding the research and the character of their participation e) whether or not the participants will be deceived and, if so, how they will be debriefed (include debriefing form)
7. How consent will be obtained and whether or not the participants will be given a copy of the consent form (include consent form)
8. The degree of sensitivity of the information to be gathered and, if participants are to be personally identified, the steps that will be taken to ensure confidentiality
9. Copies of all relevant supporting materials, including surveys, questionnaires, consent forms, debriefing forms, and any other documents or materials to which the participants will be exposed. Additionally, please provide electronic links to any online surveys or websites used for the research (these links will be tested during IRB review and therefore must be ‘live’ and open for access; discard IRB testing data before collecting your research data).
This information can be accessed in an editable Word document here