HTML Preview Office Decision Tree page number 1.
Will you, a member of your research team or a collaborator observe, interact with, or intervene with individuals
to gather information that will be used for research? Examples:
Surveys, questionnaires, focus groups, interviews
Games, experiments in physical or in electronic environments
Physical or biomedical procedures – imaging, scanning, blood collection, anthropomorphic procedures
Diet, nutrition studies, taste tests
Studies examining effectiveness of educational tools or curricula
Use of instruments or devices, including phones, to collect data or monitor or influence behavior
Passive observation of public behavior (in physical or online environments, including social media)
Studies examining individuals’ responses to manipulation of their physical or online environment
Another activity that involves observation of, or interaction with, individuals to gather information for research
NO,
research will use
only existing data
The focus of the project is only on products,
methods, policies, procedures, organizations: e.g.,
interviewing transportation staff and officials
about parking or transportation policies and
procedures.
NO
The focus of the project is on people or their
opinions, perceptions, choices, decisions
regarding themselves or how methods, policies,
procedures, organizations etc. affect them or
their environment.
Is this a class project?
Is the sole intent of the project to meet
course requirements, with no intention
to use the results for something other
than the course assignment?
Is the project an oral history,
ethnographic, or journalistic piece?
NO
Does the project involve stories that will
or may draw broad conclusions about
the population, cultures, norms and
practices; even if no research hypothesis
is being tested or validated?
YES
The project may
lead to use of the
results outside of
the course (e.g., for
a publication,
presentation, thesis,
or dissertation).
Is this a quality assurance/quality
improvement/organizational
effectiveness study?I.e. to
assess, improve, or develop
programs or services for an
organization?
NO
YES
Will outcomes be
generalized for other
organizations,
programs or
services?
Outcomes will remain specific to the organization,
programs or services, although other organizations
may use the results for their own programs.
Published materials will be limited to only
documenting or reporting on events, situations,
policies, institutions or systems without the intent
to form hypotheses, draw conclusions, or
generalize findings.
NO
Refer to IRB Decision
Tree #2 on Existing/
Secondary data
Not human participant research. No
application to the IRB office is needed.
Project is research with human subjects.
An application to the IRB office and written notice of approval required before the study can begin.
Forms available at www.irb.cornell.edu. Questions? Contact [email protected]
NO
YES
YES
Not human participant research. No
application to the IRB office is needed.
YES
NO
Does Your Project Require an Application to the Cornell IRB Office?
Decision Tree #1
Is the information being collected
‘about’ individuals?
YES
NO
YES
YES