Institutional Review Board Jennifer Downey Sam Bruton Director of the Office of Research Integrity 10 Common Mistakes

Director of Office of Research Integrity Contact Info Sam Bruton Director of Office of Research Integrity Samuel.Bruton@usm.edu 266-6756 IC 418 Jennifer Downey IRB Committee Member Jennifer.Downey@usm.edu IC 415 Striking – most people say they understand

IRB Applications Ten Common Mistakes

http://www.usm.edu/research/institutional- review-board IRB Page

Failing to attach documents properly.

2. Failing to complete and/or attach both required CITI training course certificates. Successful completion of both courses is required for all USM personnel participating as PIs or other investigators in human subjects research. In the case of undergraduate and graduate student researchers, certificates from committee or thesis chairs for both courses also need to be attached.

3. Failing to have appropriate external agency permission documents attached.

4. Researchers sending in applications directly, rather having them sent in by department chair or unit head. Researcher Chair IRB Note: Receiving IRB applications directly from the department chair or unit head is the IRB’s way of verifying that the relevant supervisor knows of the project and approves.

5. Failing to explain research procedures and purpose of the research clearly and in sufficient detail.

6. Failing to include all relevant information and attach relevant supplemental documents (survey instruments, consent forms, and recruitment materials).

7. Confusing anonymity with confidentiality.

8. Typos and Inconsistencies

9. Failing to respond adequately to revisions requested by the reviewer. If the reviewer requests that you fix x, y, z, and you do not do so, you should not expect the reviewer to approve of your revision.

10. Consent forms contain jargon or are written at too high a level.

Questions?