Use this hyperlinked flowchart to help you decide what sort of IRB process and approval you need. If you have any comments on this, please email Research Services at <rssubmissions@uwstout.edu>.
Step One: Is your project research? The Federal definition of research for the purpose of protection of human subjects is as follows: "Research is a systematic investigation designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge."
Examples of research:
A Psychology student studies effects of violent video games on blood pressure and pulse as part of a class.
A professor sends email to students inviting them to take a web-based survey on spring break activities.
Examples of projects that don't meet this definition:
An Industrial Design class has a project to create a hammer for people with disabilities. As part of the project, students need to take various designs and have people test them out.
Someone from the Student Center asks people leaving the Pawn to fill out a survey about their dining experience.