Institutional Review Board (IRB)

 

Purpose

Defines the Institutional Review Board (IRB) process utilized at LBCC.

 

Statement

The Institutional Review Board (IRB) is an administrative body established to protect the rights and welfare of human research subjects recruited to participate in research activities conducted under the auspices of the institution with which it is affiliated.

The IRB protects human subjects from physical or psychological harm, which it does reviewing research protocols and related materials. The protocol review assesses the ethics of the research and its methods, promotes fully informed and voluntary participation by prospective subjects capable of making such choices (or, if that is not possible, informed permission given by a suitable proxy), and seeks to maximize the safety of subjects.

Research Types That Require IRB Approval

• Any research conducted by an external person or group
• Any research intended for outside publication
• Any research that involves individuals outside the investigator’s locus of control
  • Locus of control typically refers to:
    • For faculty, individuals enrolled in their assigned courses
    • For department chairs, individuals enrolled in their assigned programs of study
    • For staff, individuals with whom they interact as part of their regular duties

The IRB is part of Institutional Effectiveness. To begin the IRB process (or to ask any IRB-related questions), please email research@linnbenton.edu. Institutional Effectiveness will perform an initial assessment to determine the category of the research. Typically, research conducted for course evaluation, institutional research, or ongoing college process improvement is considered exempt, and research approved by another accredited institution’s IRB is considered expedited. Both do not require full review and can be approved solely by Institutional Effectiveness. Any other research will undergo full review, requiring approval from Institutional Effectiveness, the Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs, and the Director of Human Resources or the Manger of Student Conduct and Retention, depending on whether the research involves students or faculty and staff members.

 

 

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