Ethical Research Review Board

College of the Atlantic

Ethics as a foundation for research

The Ethical Research Review Board (ERRB) reviews research proposals involving human subjects at College of the Atlantic. The Common Rule 45 CFR 46 is the federal law that regulates all research activities in the United States. Before starting any project with human participants, you must obtain ERRB approval in compliance with federal law and institutional policy. For international projects that involve humans, it’s possible that you might need ERRB approval from COA in addition to ethical clearance from the host country. See below for information about international research and projects.

Do you need ERRB approval?

You likely need ERRB approval if:

You collect information systematically to answer a research question or analyze identifiable data (e.g., for a senior project).
Your project involves direct interaction with people (interviews, focus groups, questionnaires, participant observation), experiments, interventions, or accessing private, identifiable information.
Your research results will circulate outside of a single class (for example, as a senior thesis, conference presentation, or publication).
Your research or project involves collecting information from humans outside the US.

If you answer “yes” to at least three of them, you will likely need ERRB approval before beginning your research or project. If unsure, consult your project director or email a summary to [email protected] for guidance. For questions about international projects, please direct questions to ERRB.

Download and complete the ERRB proposal form, including your project director’s signature.
Prepare your oral and/or written consent forms using the provided template.
Submit your signed proposal and consent forms electronically to [email protected].

Incomplete proposals will not be reviewed.

Research activities are regulated by federal and international laws. Most countries have their own institutional review boards that are governed by local and international laws. Research is not legally defined in the same way across the world. In other words, what counts as research in the United States might be regulated in a different way in another country. This also means that exempt projects that involve humans in the United States might not be exempt in another country. For example, many projects conducted for class purposes in the US are exempt, however, they might not be exempt in other countries. There might not be a “student exemption”.

When you go to a different country to collect information from their citizens and residents, some might view it as intelligence gathering. You are now seen as a foreigner collecting information. Risks might be higher if the topic is considered controversial in that location. Therefore, geopolitical issues must be considered. If you plan on working on projects in other countries, note that some locations require you to apply for a research visa in order to enter a country. This is different from ethical review approvals, which only determine whether your project adheres to local laws. A visa lets you enter a country, i.e., it does not approve your project. If you are going to a country to work on a project (research or not), the appropriate approvals must be obtained first.

Some locations also only allow approved institutions to review and approve projects. For example, Kenya has a list of approved Kenyan higher education institutions that are granted the right to approve projects. Some of these applications cost extra money and take months. Please plan accordingly.

Resources:

Office for Human Research Protections: government website that has links to international laws and guidance. Note that their list is not exhaustive.

You can submit proposals anytime during the academic year. Proposals are not reviewed in July or August. Please allow up to three weeks for review during the academic year, and keep in mind that approval cannot be granted retroactively—research may not begin until official ERRB approval has been received. To ensure adequate time for review and any needed revisions, submit your proposal at least six weeks before your planned research start date.

Ethical research means identifying and minimizing potential risks to participants, especially when privacy, reputation, or sensitive information is involved.

Questions to consider:

Could someone be harmed, embarrassed, or put at risk if information is disclosed?
Are there power imbalances or vulnerable populations involved?
How will you distinguish between personal relationships and research roles?
Are you aware of your own privilege and the ethical orientation of your project?
How will you inform participants of any risks through consent forms?

If your work involves activism, intervention, or research in sensitive communities, you must demonstrate knowledge of the context and thoughtful consideration of potential effects.

Use clear, thorough consent forms to inform participants of any potential risks, and develop concrete plans for maintaining privacy and confidentiality throughout your work. As you prepare for your project, take time to reflect on your own safety, your moral commitments, and the ways your actions may impact others. If any concerns arise, discuss them with your project director or the ERRB for additional support.

Federal resources:

Web resources for ethics in research:

Recommended books:

Booth et al., The Craft of Research. University of Chicago Press, 2008.
Boellstorff et al., Ethnography in Virtual Worlds: A Handbook of Method. Princeton University Press, 2012.
Fisher et al., Getting to Yes (on conflict resolution).