Research Review Application Process
Required research approval
• All MSA 699 students are required to obtain research approval prior
to collecting data for their MSA 699 projects.
• The majority of students will go through the MSA Program’s Research
Review Application (RRA) process.
• A few students may need CMU’s Institutional Review Board (IRB)
process.
• Documentation of research approval is required to clear the
graduation audit. (approval e-mails will be sent by Christina Prout or
Kim Gribben)
Do I need the IRB process?
• Two critical criterion:
– use of human subjects in your project
– and have plans to publish your findings or present your
findings outside of your organization
• Research is defined by the IRB as a systematic
investigation, including research development, testing
and evaluation, designed to develop or contribute to
generalizable knowledge.
• We ask about the intent to publish or present as a
screening criteria. However, the intent to contribute to
generalizable knowledge defines the research as
research which requires IRB approval.
RRA process
• The RRA form and supporting materials are
developed out of chapter 3 of the MSA 699 project.
• Your MSA 699 instructor will tell you when to
develop the materials.
• The form and supporting materials goes first to the
instructor for review and signature.
• The instructor then sends the packet to the MSA
office for a final review.
Projects without human subjects
• In the large text box on the form, describe the
purpose of your research, describe the data you plan
to use, and specify the sources of your data (URL,
organizational source, etc.)
• Required attachments: A signed permission letter on
the organization’s letterhead if the data is not
available to the general public.
Projects with human subjects (surveys,
interviews, identifiable data)
• In the large text box on the form:
– describe the purpose of your research;
– specify the source of your subject pool, the number of
subjects, and the selection criteria.
– Specify your relationship to the subjects (co-worker,
supervisor, work in same organization, etc.)
– Describe your research methodology—survey, interview,
or data collection details.
Templates
• Templates are available at
http://www.grad.cmich.edu/msa/researchreview
for:
– Survey cover letters
– Consent forms
– Telephone interviews or informal interviews
– Permission letters
Samples
• Samples can be found in Part 2, Student Guide
to the MSA Capstone Project:
– RRA forms and sample text
– Permission letters and suggested text
– Survey cover letter
– Consent form
Supporting materials to submit with
the RRA form
• Copy of survey or interview questions,
• Cover letter or consent form,
• Signed permission letter on the organization’s
letterhead (digital signatures are acceptable)
• Details of the source if the subject pool is
selected from a public source such as a phone
directory or web page (provide the URL).
FAQs
• Why is a permission letter needed?
– A permission letter documents that the researcher has
access to the subject pool or the proposed data.
• Why provide an estimate on the number of subjects?
– Helps to the determine if the demographic questions are
appropriate based on the size of the subject pool.
– The combination of demographic questions could serve to
identify individual participants. If subjects are to be
anonymous, the demographic questions should be
appropriate for the size of the subject pool.
FAQs continued
• Why is it important to disclose the researcher’s
relationship to proposed subjects?
– This information helps the RRA reviewer determine is a
supervisor disclosure should be added to consent
documents and also helps in evaluating the risk related to
survey/interview questions.
• Why should the researcher eliminate subjects under
the age of 18?
– Subjects under the age of 18 are considered minors and
cannot give consent without also having the consent of a
parent/guardian.
FAQs continued
• Is social media acceptable as a method for
developing a subject pool?
– Social media is acceptable if the researcher can survey a
targeted group. Surveying friends and family is not a
scholarly approach.
• Are there free online surveys available to students?
– Yes, free online surveys are available to students and are
often restricted in terms of the number of questions that
can be included in the survey. SurveyMonkey is one
service available, but there are many others.
Additional considerations
Military students:
• Students at military locations should be aware that
there are DoD regulations regarding the use of
other military personnel as human
subjects. Commercial online surveys, such as
SurveyMonkey, are not acceptable.
Hospital IRBs (Civilian and Military):
• Students who plan research in hospitals should be
determine whether the hospital has an IRB
requirement.
Good luck!
• Set yourself small goals each week and
achieve those goals!
• Communicate with your instructor. He or she
only wants your success and is your best
resource.
• Use the Writing Center and library resources
to improve your writing and adherence to the
APA format