Managing your IRB

Instructor: Theresa Floyd

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) are often unfamiliar with social network research methods, which can make it difficult for network studies to receive IRB approval. This module helps you plan your research designs to meet IRB requirements, and communicate effectively in IRB applications.

It will cover IRB basics, and then focus on the special issues relating to respondent confidentiality and network research. It will provide pointers for whole and ego network study design, and provide suggested language to use in your IRB applications. It will also briefly cover explaining confidentiality protections to your respondents, online data collection contingencies, and getting IRB approval to collect data at outside institutions.