Research activities vary in the level of review required by the IRB, depending on how they involve human participants. Some projects must undergo full IRB review due to the nature of participant interaction. Others may qualify for exemption, while certain types of research require a limited review to confirm that appropriate measures are in place to protect participant confidentiality.

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If you are unsure whether your project meets the definition of “research,” please start here by consulting the federal guidelines. In general, projects such as documentary films, podcasts, or oral histories that do not investigate a specific research question or aim to produce generalizable knowledge are not subject to IRB oversight. Although these activities may still raise ethical considerations, they typically do not require IRB review. That said, the IRB co-chairs are available to provide guidance on ethical questions and are happy to meet with you if you would find it helpful. If you have questions, you are encouraged to contact one of the IRB co-chairs directly.

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If your project does qualify as research involving human participants, please continue by reviewing the chart below and then consult the six exemption categories to determine the appropriate classification for your study. (Projects that do not meet the definition of human subjects research do not require IRB review.)