Discussion 1 Group Five

What is an IRB? An IRB is known as an Institutional Review Board that is a part of
each institution of higher learning that reviews the action research study to ensure that the
proposed study is conducted in such a manner that protects the rights of any human subjects
involved (Mertler, 2017). The purpose of the IRB is to safeguard and protect human subjects
involved in a research study. The IRB is a way to protect the rights and welfare of humans
participating as subjects in the research study by the researcher providing a summary of the
proposed study that focuses primarily on the methods that will be used to collect data for
participants. It is solely the responsibility of the practitioner-researcher to make sure the
action research adheres to the ethical standards (Mertler, 2017).
Ways that the IRB body can protect the rights and welfare of human research subjects
recruited to participate in research activities conducted by supports of the institution in which
it is affiliated is by including a member on the board who is not affiliated with the board and
a member that is not a scientist (Oregon State University, n.d.). This is protected by the
National Research Act of 1974 that was signed into law (U.S. Department of Health &
Human Services, 1979). This created the National Commission for the Protection of Human
Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research. The sole purpose of this act was to identify
basic ethical principles to be followed when conducting biomedical and behavioral research
on human subjects. They are created to ensure that ethical considerations and principles are
followed by researchers and that appropriate and adequate safety measures are put in place to
safeguard the human subjects taking part in the research.
IRBs play a critical role in ensuring that the rights of the human participants taking
part in research are protected and that they are safe from any possible harm or exploitation
(Connelly, 2014). IRBs ensure that participation in research is voluntary and human subjects

are not coerced (Connelly, 2014). In addition to this, regulations were passed in 1974 that
required researchers to get voluntary informed consent from all persons taking part in studies
done or funded by the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (DHEW)
(U.S.Department of Health & Human Services, 2020.) These are a few ways that those
affiliated with the institution are protected. Thus, IRBs ensure that human subjects are aware
of what the research entails and that they have all the information needed to make an
informed consent. Participants should be aware that they have a right to withdraw from the
research at any time (Connelly, 2014). Also, they ensure that special populations and those
populations that are vulnerable such as children, prisoners, and older populations, receive the
care they need. Also, in the case of children, consent must be provided by the parents for
them to be involved in the research.
IRB is responsible for reviewing all research, whether it is funded or not, that intend
to use human subjects prior to their initiation. They have the authority to give the go-ahead
(approve) disapproval, ask researchers to make modifications as well as monitor how
research activities that fall under their jurisdiction are being conducted (Prehospital Care
Research Forum, 2021). Compliance by researchers requires that they undergo training; this
is mainly online and is conducted by The National Institutes of Health Office of Extramural
Research. Researchers receive training on how to deal with human subjects as well as ways to
ensure that they are protected. Thus, to ensure compliance with IRB guidelines, researchers
ensure that their proposals are completed as per the requirements.
Our PLC reviewed a study in which a company known as People Shores partnered
with Microsoft. In this study, they researched human motions. The workers were asked to
recruit participants to study the normal body motions like blinking or simply raising their
arms above their heads. The requirements were to be 18 years or older and able to move. The
participants were to sign consent forms and given surveys to ensure they were aware of many

other things that were not all verbally mentioned. Connelly 2014 says informed consent is an
essential part of the research process and the consent form is reviewed by the IRB. The
survey told us about their experiences if the motions were difficult, and if it were something
they would do again. All participants were consistently asked if they would like to continue
with motions or stop. The text says there are adequate provisions to protect the privacy of
human research subjects and to maintain the confidentiality of research data” (Human
Research Protection Office (HRPO) (2018). Throughout this study, information has been
notated that supports the need for an IRB. This way it ensures that the subjects are protected
and that all ethical considerations are being followed.
References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020) How Tuskegee Changed Research
Practices. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/tuskegee/after.htm
Connelly, L. M. (2014). Ethical considerations in research studies. MedSurg Nursing,
23(1). 54-55.
Human Research Protection Office (HRPO) (2018) Chapter 2 – Purpose of the human
research protection office and institutional review board. Retrieved
from https://www.hrpo.pitt.edu/policies-and-procedures/chapter-2-purpose-human-
research-protection-office-and-institutional-review
Mertler, C. A. (2017). Action research: Improving schools and empowering educators (5th
ed.) [Electronic version]. Retrieved from https://content.ashford.edu/
Oregon State University (n.d). What is the Institutional Review Board? Retrieved
from https://research.oregonstate.edu/irb/frequently-asked-questions/what-
institutional-review-board-irb