Students as Researchers

Research, according to federal regulations, is a systematic investigation (an organized, scientific way of collecting information, using a series of questions or observations) designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge. Data is collected from a "human subject", who is a living individual about whom an investigator (a faculty member or student) conducting research obtains (1) data through intervention or interaction with the individual, or (2) identifiable private information.

This definition is important to remember when students (undergraduate and/or graduate) are contemplating to conduct independent class projects, senior theses, masters projects and doctoral dissertations. Faculty advisors play an important role is in the student's design and development of human participant research project and are ultimately responsible for the protection of the subjects, even if the student is the primary researcher and actually directs the project. Advisers shoulder the responsibility for students engaged in independent research, and instructors are responsible for research that is conducted as part of a course.

Please review the below to determine how the IRB's guidance can assist you.

Class Projects

Students enrolled in research related methodology courses learn skills through a combination of readings,  lectures and research activities or projects. There may also be the expectation for the student to apply what is taught (i.e. use skills outside of the classroom). As such, the IRB has developed special guidelines for such class projects. Student researchers are encouraged to discuss potential research proposals with class instructors and to consult the IRB's guidance about class related projects.

Independent Research

Student researchers conducting independent research for senior theses, master's projects and doctoral dissertations are required, as are faculty investigators, to follow the appropriate application review and approval process before conducting an independent research project. Consult the below submission procedures and forward to your faculty advisor for review and signature before the electronic submission process. It is expected the faculty advisor will review the application before submission to the IRB. His/her signature on the application indicates the appropriate review has taken place.

Exempt | Expedited Review | Full Board Review

General examples of research conducted at UMBC to help plan a study may be found here.

Research Within a Faculty Advisor’s Approved Protocol

Student researchers may wish to carry out research projects or studies that involve using data collected on a faculty advisor’s IRB approved protocol. Students may conduct their own lines of inquiry under a previously approved IRB protocol, provided the level of risk does not change, no additional benefits are realized by participants, and the scope of the student’s research project does not significantly differ from the parent protocol.  Research that falls within this category may be conducted as part of a senior thesis, master’s project or doctoral dissertation.

Rather than burden the student researcher with completing a full application for review and approval, the IRB requests the student to complete a Thesis, Masters or Dissertation Research Notification form. This form will assist the IRB in monitoring if the planned activities of the project are already part of a previously IRB approved protocol and/or if there will be any modifications (to risks, consent processes, use of identifiers, etc.) during the course of the research project that will change the provisions of the approved protocol.

Click on the below to download the

Thesis, Masters or Dissertation Research Notification form

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