1. Course Evaluations not Research From HRPP

2. What is Research? Research is a systemic investigation designed to develop or contribute to “generalizable knowledge” including but not limited to any project, task, pilot study, experiment, investigation, study, clinical study, evaluation, or developmental effort or similar undertaking.(32CFR219)

3. Course Evaluations Course evaluations are not considered research for the purposes of applying the Code of Federal Regulations (32 CFR 219) and you are not required to submit a protocol for review to the USNA IRB. The submission which involves voluntary course evaluation by midshipmen is for the purposes of internal evaluation and program development. This does not constitute a systematic evaluation for the purpose of creating “generalizable knowledge” and therefore does not meet the definition of research as given at 32 CFR 219. As such there is no need to submit your proposal for IRB review.

4. Can Evaluations be Research Once you add questions to the course evaluations for your own purpose the “Intent” has now changed and it can become research. Please see the IRB before giving evaluations if you already know that you may want to publish/externally or present results

5. Summary It is understood that course evaluations are for internal purposes only and are not intended for external distribution, presentation or publication. Should this change at any point in the future please contact the HRPP Office at hrppoffice@usna.edu or #410-293-2533.hrppoffice@usna.edu