Question

Historically, repeated negative events have led to the implementation of the institutional review board (IRB) process. Why do research proposals need to be reviewed by an IRB? What are the ethical, academic, and legal implications for conducting research without IRB approval? Explain

Answer 1

Institutional Review Board, also abbreviated as IRB, is a group or committee, which functions to examine research proposals to see whether they follow the federal guidelines framed for the protection of human participants in research studies. The board is also known as the Independent Ethics Committee (IEC), Ethical Review Board (ERB) and Research Ethics Board (REB). The Institutional Review Board protects the human participants by setting institutional policy for research. More specifically, the board has the right to examine, approve, disapprove or bring about alterations in research or related activities, conducted on human subjects. Research proposals need to be reviewed by an IRB, as this board is responsible for protecting human subjects from any kind of physical or psychological harm and exploitation. It is important to note that human subjects significantly contribute to the successful conduction of scrupulous research. So, it becomes the duty of the IRB to check whether sufficient and correct safeguards are available to protect the rights and welfare of the subjects. The board also ensures that the ethical principles are followed, while dealing with human subjects in research studies. It ensures fully informed and voluntary participation of subjects in the research studies. The board also ensures that correct steps are taken to protect the rights and welfare of humans subjects.

It will be illegal and unethical to research without IRB approval. This will expose human subjects to risks. The human subjects can be at the risk of being harmed, physically, psychologically, socially and economically. The subjects can be physically harmed when the research topics tend to be sensitive (like research based on domestic violence and illegal activities). Subjects can be harmed psychologically. More specifically, they can experience stress, depression, guilt, embarrassment and poor self-esteem. The subjects are at the social risk of the revelation of personal or group attitudes and behaviours or preferences, which might result in vilification, discrimination and negative bias or prejudice. The subjects are at the economic risk of the revelation of a subject's details. This can adversely affect his or her academics, employment and insurance, upon revelation to others. There can be a violation of rules regarding privacy. There can also be a violation of rules regarding confidentiality of records generated during the research.