Request for Approval to Conduct Research Activities 

Thank you for your interest in conducting research at Northwood Technical College. This form will be submitted to Institutional Effectiveness and College Leadership for review. If you have any questions, please email IRTeam@northwoodtech.edu.

There are two kinds of IRB review at Northwood Tech: exemption or expedited review. The design of the research and what participants will be asked to do are the primary determinants of which type of review applies.

Exempt
Some kinds of research only involve human participation in a peripheral way. For instance, the research may involve data that already exists, anonymous surveys, or comparison of instructional methods. There is a specific set of criteria defined in 45 CFR 46.101 (b) that can qualify a project for exempt status.

Expedited
For projects that are not exempt but involve no more than minimal risk to participants, an expedited process exists for obtaining IRB approval. As with an IRB exemption, there are specific criteria that must be met in order to qualify for expedited review. Research already approved by another regionally accredited IRB generally qualifies for an expedited review.