Purpose and Function
The Institutional Review Board (IRB) at Crown College exists to protect the rights and welfare of human subjects involved in research. The IRB ensures that participants are not placed at undue risk and that they provide informed, voluntary consent. With members representing multiple disciplines, the IRB carefully reviews projects to support ethical, responsible scholarship at Crown.
What Counts as Research?
Research is defined by federal guidelines as a systematic investigation designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge.
The IRB reviews:
- Student, faculty, or staff projects involving human participants conducted on or off Crown’s campus.
- External research conducted on the Crown campus.
Classroom Research Projects That Do Not Require IRB Review
Many classroom assignments are designed to help students learn research methods without producing results intended for publication or broader application. These pedagogical activities generally do not require IRB review, provided they meet the following conditions:
- Conducted only for instructional purposes and intended solely for use within the course.
- Participants are classmates or peers in the same course, and no one is pressured to participate.
- Topics are minimal risk (e.g., course-related surveys on study habits, short interviews, or practice observation activities).
- Data remain in the classroom and are not shared outside the course (such as in presentations, publications, or public reports).
- Personal identifiers are not collected (names, student ID numbers, or other identifying information).
- Faculty oversight is provided to ensure ethical practices and to step in if any project raises potential risks.
Examples of activities that usually do not require IRB review include:
- Mock surveys or interviews used to practice data collection.
- Classroom evaluations of teaching strategies.
- Student-designed opinion polls limited to classmates.
- Practice observations of public behavior where individuals cannot be identified.
When IRB Review Is Needed
Even if the project starts as a class assignment, IRB review is required if:
- The results may be presented at conferences, published, or otherwise disseminated outside the classroom.
- The project involves vulnerable populations (minors, prisoners, individuals with cognitive impairments, etc.).
- The topic involves sensitive or personal issues that could place participants at risk.
In these cases, students (with faculty supervision) must submit an application to the IRB for review before beginning the project.
Levels of Review
Level 1: Full Review
A full review is required for research involving vulnerable populations (such as minors, prisoners, or pregnant women), sensitive personal topics (e.g., sexual behavior, illegal activity, substance use), personality measures requiring specialized training, or projects using identifiable recordings (video, audio, or photos). Full reviews are conducted by the entire IRB committee, which meets to discuss the proposal, ask questions, and vote. Approval requires a quorum of the committee. This process is designed for studies that may involve greater than minimal risk to participants.
Level 2: Expedited Review
An expedited review is used for minimal-risk studies, such as anonymous surveys of adults, observation of public behavior, archival research with de-identified data, or classroom-based educational practices. In these cases, the IRB Chair and one additional reviewer examine the application. If both reviewers agree the project meets expedited criteria, it can be approved without convening the full committee. This process allows for a quicker turnaround while still safeguarding participants.
Projects Not Requiring Review
Some activities do not require IRB review because they do not meet the federal definition of research designed to contribute to generalizable knowledge. Examples include literature reviews, internal program evaluations, quality assurance projects, or surveys on non-personal topics (e.g., opinions about policies or classroom practices). These projects remain under the supervision of faculty or program leaders but are not subject to IRB submission or approval.
Review Process
- All projects must be submitted before recruiting participants.
- Student projects require approval and submission by a faculty advisor trained in IRB procedures.
- The researcher should obtain the forms from our.crown and submit them to the IRB Chair via email.
- The IRB Chair determines whether a project qualifies for expedited or full review.
- Full reviews will be considered at the next IRB Committee meeting and require a quorum of the committee to approve.
- Expedited reviews will be directed by the IRB Chair and should normally take less than two weeks for consideration.
- External researchers must contact the IRB Chair before beginning studies on Crown’s campus.
Training Requirement:
All Crown research investigators must complete Crown’s IRB training. Contact the IRB Chair if you need access.
External research investigators must also complete IRB training, those this can be done through another recognized training service.
Committee Membership
- Three full-time faculty members representing at least two Schools.
- Aaron Edmund
- Karen Gustafson
- Michelle Matter
- One graduate faculty member (full-time or term faculty)
- Troy Backhuus
- One Academic Dean
- Darin Mather (IRB Chair)
- One to three members of the external community
- Kirsten Morrissette, M.D.
- Vice President of Academic Affairs
- Chris Mathews
Contact Information
Please direct all questions about Crown’s IRB to the IRB Chair, Dr. Darin Mather, matherd@crown.edu.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does student research require review?
Yes, if human participants are involved.
Do studies using existing data require review?
Yes, if the data involve human participants, unless fully anonymized.
Does IRB review apply if personal or departmental funds are used?
Yes. All research with human participants, regardless of funding source, requires IRB approval if deemed necessary.
