Using Humans in Research

To encourage responsible research by students and faculty, the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work has adopted a policy concerning the treatment of human participants in research. The policy and procedures apply only to research that entails the active engagement, direct involvement, and/or individual identification of persons as research participants. They apply, therefore, to most interview, survey, experimental, and participant observation studies, but not to historical studies, secondary analyses of existing data that do not involve confidential materials, nor to most forms of passive or unobtrusive observation in which the investigator observes an ongoing social scene but does not directly participate or intervene in it. Consult with your instructor or thesis advisor if you have questions about whether your proposed research is covered by the department's human participants policy and guidelines.

Proposals are submitted to the department's Institutional Review Officer, appointed by the chair of the department. The Institutional Review Officer is the department's liaison to the College's Institutional Review Board. In the case of research in which the departmental liaison is involved, proposals are submitted to the chair. Proposals may be expedited within the department, or submitted to Skidmore's Institutional Review Board for full review if the research might put subjects at risk, involves intervention or deception, interviews or surveys on sensitive topics, or special populations (such as minors or prisoners). Faculty assigning a specific research exercise may submit one proposal to cover the activities of their students.

POLICY

It is the policy of the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work to protect the rights and welfare of the participants of research conducted as part of the courses, independent studies, thesis projects, faculty research, and other academic activities that we sponsor. The department prohibits research that poses a demonstrable danger to the safety and security of research participants. The department also prohibits research that does not adequately protect the anonymity of participants, the confidentiality of information obtained from them, or their right to refuse to participate.

The department strongly discourages the use of designs and procedures that entail substantial deception of participants with regard to the nature and purposes of the research project. In all cases where deception is employed, the researcher(s) must show that deception is essential for assuring the validity of the research and does not pose a significant risk to participants.

QUESTIONS AND INQUIRES

Direct any questions or inquiries concerning human participants in department-related social research to Professor Jacqueline Azzarto, the department's Institutional Review Officer. Dr. Azzarto's office is 224 Tisch Learning Center; her phone number is 518/580-5414; and her e-mail address is jazzarto.

PROCEDURES

On-line: Click here for a Human Participants form to complete and submit online.

Off-line: Answer the following questions as they pertain to your proposed research:

1. Name, address, and telephone number of principal researcher(s).
   
   
2. Project title and brief description of research problem
   
   
3. Location of study.
   
   
4. Dates of data collection phase of research:
   From:
   To:
   
   Use a separate a sheet for questions 5-10:
   
   
5. Describe procedures related to subject participation, including details concerning:
   a. Who your participants are (e.g., students, Saratoga Springs residents, etc.)?
   b. How many participants will be involved and how they will be recruited?
   c. What the participants will do or what will be done to them?
   
   
6. Will your research involve any deception? If so, explain how participants will be deceived and why.
   
   
7. How will you obtain participants' informed consent?
   
   
8. Do you see any chance that participants will be harmed in any way? How will you minimize risks to participants?
   
   
9. Describe procedures you will use to debrief your participants. Please attach a copy of what will be said (or presented) to the subjects.
   
   
10. How will you insure the anonymity of your participants and/or the confidentiality of the information collected?
    
    

NOTE: Your instructor/advisor will notify the department chair of your project in order to keep the Department informed about ongoing research.