NYU Wagner

THE IRB INITIATIVE

An online resource for educators and researchers
in policy and management

Jan Blustein, Founding Principal Investigator

Our History

The IRB Initiative began as a series of discussions among NYU/Wagner faculty. We were faced with the need to seek IRB review for some of our work, and wanted to better understand our obligations.

As educators and researchers, we recognized three sets of obligations: (1) the requirement to adhere to the federal regulations governing human subjects research; (2) the need to conduct our professional work in a fashion that is consistent with the highest professional ethical standards; and (3) the necessity to include ethical topics in our classroom teaching.

As we talked about how to meet these obligations, we were struck by several things. First, we were aware that some of the research activities that we undertake do not meet the criteria for research involving human subjects, as described in the federal regulations, and therefore do not require IRB review. However, we were unclear as to where to draw the line between projects that require review and projects that do not. Second, we knew that many of the activities that we were undertaking with our students involved teaching research and professional skills. But we were unsure as to whether those activities required review by an IRB. Third � and most importantly � we learned that we were not alone. Social scientists and educators around the nation are confused, vexed and often stymied by the conflicting messages that they receive about their obligations under the federal regulations.

Since our initial meeting, discussion of IRB matters and professional ethical issues has grown at Wagner. One of us � Jan Blustein � has published on our experience in professional venues. As a result of these activities, we have begun to get requests for information about our experience.