TechLogo Institutional Review Board for Human Subjects Research

IRB Procedure at New Mexico Tech

  1. Download the IRB Application Form and Form A using the links provided at right.
  2. Fill out both forms to the best of your ability. Make sure that you attach any related documents (e.g., surveys or questionnaires, consent forms, flyers or advertisements used to solicit participants, etc.).
  3. Submit all documents to the IRB Administrator (Brown Hall, Room 111B).
  4. The IRB Administrator will perform an initial review of your project to determine what level of IRB review is needed. There are three levels of IRB review, as follows:
  • For classroom or practicum projects -- New Mexico Tech's IRB Administrator reviews all human subjects research -- including classroom or practicum projects that will not be published. Please complete the IRB Application Form and bring it to Brown 111B. Your project will probably be eligible for an Administrative Review, which will only take a few minutes. You should be able to start your project as soon as you have the signed Approval Form in hand.
  • If your research project will NOT collect any Personally Identifiable Data from your participants, your project will probably be eligible for an Administrative Review. This will take only a few minutes, and you should be able to start your project as soon as you have the signed Approval Form in hand.
  • If your research project WILL collect some Personally Identifiable Data from your participants, then your project may be eligible for an Expedited Review. An Expedited Review is performed by the IRB Administrator and one other IRB member. This can take up to a week to complete. Please note that you will NOT be able to start your project until you receive the signed Approval Form.
  • If your project uses special populations (children or minors under age 18) or if you are collecting very sensitive personal data, your project may require Full-Board Review. This will require a meeting of the full Institutional Review Board, which can take up to two weeks to arrange. You may be asked for more information by the Full Board before it decides to approve or disapprove your project. Be aware that you will NOT be able to start your project until you receive the signed Approval Form from the full IRB.

 

 

Personally Identifiable Data

Personally Identifiable Data is defined by federal regulation as the following information:

  • Name
  • Identification Numbers (i.e., Social Security Number or Tech Student ID Number)
  • Contact Information (i.e., Physical Address, Phone Number, and/or Email Address)
  • Audiotape recordings, videotape recordings, or photographic images of participants
  • Sensitive health or medical information (i.e., HIV status, drug/alcohol use, mental or/ emotional issues, etc.)
  • Other sensitive information that could harm participants if it became known (i.e., criminal acts, risky behaviors, etc.)
  • Blood, tissues, fluids, or DNA from participants