So your project meets the federal definition of research involving human subjects. You need to get IRB approval for your project before you may begin. There are still some questions to ask that will help both you and the IRB make the best and quickest decision.
The Federal guidelines for the protection of human subjects allow for certain types of project to be exempt from IRB review. Do you meet any of these conditions? If so, you still need to fill out the IRB form, but you can request exemption under a certain category. If you don't meet these conditions, go on to the next page.
Exemption #1: Research conducted in established or commonly accepted educational settings, involving normal education practices.
Examples: research on two different teaching strategies; research on curricular materials. Non-exempt examples: giving a survey on spring break vacation places to a college class, interviewing a businessperson for part of a business class.
Exemption #2/3: Research involving the use of educational tests, surveys procedures, interview procedures, or observation of public behavior. Exemption only holds if subjects can not be identified directly or indirectly (photos, names, IDs, etc.).
Examples: polling students on usage of the Terrace Cafe during finals week; anonymous web-based survey of students about Stout Student Association. Non-exempt examples: web-based survey using student IDs as trackers; surveys of children/minors
Exemption #4: Research involving collection or study of existing data, documents, records, or diagnostic/pathological specimens, provided the subjects cannot be identified directly or indirectly.
Examples: research using existing data collected via anonymous surveys; data gathered from a source that removes all identifying information. Non-exempt examples: getting GPA data from the Registrar connected to student IDs; using existing data gathered during a co-op or internship for a Master's thesis
Exemption #5: Research studying, evaluating, or examining public benefit or service programs, if conducted by the Agency or Department Head.
Exemption #6: Research involving taste and food quality evaluation or consumer acceptance studies.
Examples: taste-testing of new pudding; trial testing of hotdish recipe.