Institutional Review Board

The Institutional Review Board (IRB) is responsible for reviewing research projects that involve human participants to ensure ethical and legal research standards are upheld. All researchers submitting applications—including faculty supervising student research—must demonstrate an understanding of the ethical and legal guidelines governing the use of human participants by completing an IRB-approved training prior to the approval of any human subjects research.

Maryville College adheres to following three fundamental ethical principles for all human subjects’ research outlined in the “Ethical Principles and Guidelines for the Protection of Human Subjects of Research” also known as the Belmont Report:

  • Respect for persons
  • Beneficence
  • Justice

In addition, to the three principles above, human subjects research standards also include:

  • Research is supported by sound rationale and purpose;
  • Participants are not placed at undue risk;
  • Training and experience of researchers is adequate;
  • Participants are not coerced and provide informed consent for their participation;
  • Participants’ privacy and reputation are protected;
  • Applicants intending to work with protected populations should expect a longer review process;
  • Federal guidelines and safeguards are met;
  • Additional standards, requirements, and safeguards for research conducted internationally are required; and
  • Measures are taken to protect the College and researcher from complaints due to incomplete material, poor quality of research materials, and/or unclear instructions.