IRB application, q. 51-52

Question 51 of the IRB application is concerning the consent form, it is checklist of the various required elements. Also, be aware that there is a template for the consent form available on the IRB website. The consent form is a very important document, so it is important to follow the template and instructions as closely as possible. 

One thing to consider, is there a possibility that your population may not have a high level of literacy? Keep in mind that the population in general, is estimated at a 10^th grade reading level. Could your population be lower? You can check the readability of your documents in Word- go to the help menu in Word and get the instructions for your version. If you think it is too high, you can lower the level by simplifying words and reducing the number of passive sentences. 

Question 52 is a final checklist to make sure you remember to send everything needed to the IRB, these include all documents the participant may see such as flyers, ads, surveys, interview questions, consent and assent forms. Also send any confidentiality agreements, permission letters, a clean copy of your proposal and the IRB application. 

Finally, make sure your chair signs off on the last page. We have completed our review of the IRB application. Would you like to learn more? Do you have questions? There is a group IRB advising session online on Wednesday February 26 at 1pm eastern (noon central, 11 am mountain, 10 am pacific). For more info and the link to join go to: http://researchcenter.waldenu.edu/Institutional-Review-Board-for-Ethical-Standards-in-Research.htm#sthash.cikjCBco.dpuf   

Next time we will consider how you complete the IRB application if you are secondary or archival data. Do you have an issue or a question that you would like me to discuss in a future post? Would you like to be a guest writer? Send me your ideas! leann.stadtlander@waldenu.edu