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East Hartford, CT 06118
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Goodwin College Institutional Review Board

Goodwin College believes all researchers have an ethical and professional responsibility to protect human subjects from harm.

The Institutional Review Board:

• Was established to review all research that involves human subjects and is conducted at the college or by faculty, staff or students under the auspices of the college.
• Looks for written assurances that the research plan protects the rights and welfare of the human subjects involved.
• Has the authority to approve, require modifications, or disapprove all research activities that fall within its jurisdiction. IRB approval must be obtained prior to data collection.

Characteristics that trigger IRB review include any research activity that:

• Collects data systematically
  
• Involves human subjects who are identifiable, or
• Is collected with the intention of contributing to common knowledge (i.e., shared publically outside the institution through presentation or publication).

Some research activity may be exempt from review, and this determination is made by the IRB, not the researcher. When in doubt, research proposals should be submitted to the IRB.

The following activities are generally not considered research:

• Classroom activities that teach research methodologies or simulate research activities.
• Activities conducted to improve the quality of teaching in a particular classroom.
• Activities required for quality assessment or quality improvement, including those designed for internal, institutional evaluation or improvement.

When in doubt, submit your proposal to the IRB.

For more information, contact: OIE@goodwin.edu