Announcements

Please join us for a session on "An Introduction to the Institutional Review Board at Buffalo State," presented by Jill Norvilitis, professor of psychology, and Gina Game, research compliance manager for Sponsored Programs, on Thursday, October 23, from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. in Buckham Hall B145.

Before the review process, researchers must ensure that their project is, in fact, research involving human participants as defined by the federal government. To qualify as research with human participants, the following must be true: (1) Participants must be living. The use of records is still considered research with human participants, although oral history and journalism are specifically excluded. (2) The project is a systematic investigation; that is, it is designed to be a study. For example, instances in classrooms where teachers ask students’ opinions on the material to gauge progress are not research; however, if that same teacher designs a study to evaluate two methods of teaching the material to see which is more effective, this would be research if the third criterion is met. (3) The project is designed to contribute to the generalized knowledge. To qualify as research, the person conducting the project must intend for it to be disseminated at some level. On our campus, we also review student projects that may not be disseminated but meet the first two criteria, allowing our students to learn the process of research with human participants, as we have contracted with the federal government to do so.

Please register by contacting Gina Game at gameg@buffalostate.edu.