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IRB approval
Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2026 12:23 pm
by aditreddy123
Hello, I got to know about Science Buddies from my sister. I am looking for help regarding IRB approval. My study is survey based (all participants >18 years of age). The survey will be distributed online (the limitations of online survey will be acknowledged in the study). The study is regarding financial education and understanding of concepts by high school seniors. I have the survey deisgned and it includes a consent section. No identifiable information will be collected. I also have a mentor. However, my school does not have an IRB. I have reached out to my local science fair to check if Fair SRC can help with IRB approval but have not heard back. Are there any other ways to obtain IRB approval? Thank you.
Re: IRB approval
Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2026 2:01 pm
by MadelineB
Hello and thank you for reaching out!
You and your mentor definitely need to make contact*** with the science fair coordinators and their SRC to find out exactly what they will require with respect to IRB approval as well as the text of the informed consent form. The SRCs that I am familiar with require their approval BEFORE you start surveying your subjects.
As for finding an IRB to review your project, once you know exactly what the science fair SRC requires, you could contact your school district for help in finding an IRB that meets your science fair SRC requirements.
Separately, since you are looking for "understanding of concepts by high school seniors," you might want to limit the upper age for your potential subjects so you are observing the understanding within a reasonable time frame. For example, if a subject is 50 years old, their understanding of financial concepts at the time they were a high school senior would be a time frame that is over 30 years ago ...
Again, it is good that you are trying to find answers about IRB approval! Best wishes!
Madeline
*** some ideas for contacting your science fair coordinators and the SRC ... check with the science coordinator for your school district, look for a website for the science fair, look for phone numbers or fax numbers ... be persistent! Good luck!