Research Toolbox
Institutional Review Board (IRB)
Projects involving or potentially involving hume subjects must submit a request and receive approval prior to conducting the research.
The role of the Edmonds College Institutional Review Board (IRB) is to review all proposed research involving human subjects to ensure that subjects are treated ethically and that their rights and welfare are adequately protected. The IRB is composed primarily of faculty members from disciplines in which research involving human subjects is integral to that discipline's work, administrators who have responsibility for research, institutional researchers, and members from the community (if needed). The human subjects review process is administered through the VP for Workforce Education and Training Office. All research activities involving the use of human subjects must be reviewed and approved by the IRB before data collection can begin. Investigators may not solicit subject participation or begin data collection until they have received written approval from the IRB.
Please submit requests to the IRB.
What is Undergraduate Research?
High Impact Practice (HIP) – “Many colleges and universities are now providing research experiences for students in all disciplines. Undergraduate research, however, has been most prominently used in science disciplines. With strong support from the National Science Foundation and the research community, scientists are reshaping their courses to connect key concepts and questions with students’ early and active involvement in systematic investigation and research. The goal is to involve students with actively contested questions, empirical observation, cutting-edge technologies, and the sense of excitement that comes from working to answer important questions.” High-Impact Educational Practices Association of American Colleges & Universities (2015).
Why do Undergraduate Research
- Students say: More engaged in their education, became independent thinkers, improved relationships with their faculty, advisors, and mentors, developed skills that are valued by employers and universities.
- Faculty say: Increased their motivation, excitement, and passion, more creative in their teaching, opened pathways for long‐term fulfillment, sparked renewed interest in learning new techniques and expanding areas of study.
- Administrators say: New degree programs and courses, new grants and financial support, improved ability to manage and apply for grants, increased collaboration with other institutions, improved communication across departments, increased visibility for college and research programs, improved student recruitment and retention.
Source: Community College Undergraduate Research Initiative (CCURI) Year 4 Report