Tori Linville | LIS 600 Hersberger | IRB Reflection

Approaching the quizzes for the IRB Certification assignment was overwhelming, but
eye-opening to all the possibilities and avenues researchers can traverse to answer a question
about their field of study. It made sense to me that research is not conducted to prove a point, but
to add to the scholarly conversation in a subject field. As simple as this concept sounds, I
realized through the CITI modules that it’s easier said than done.
The introductory module seemed pretty straightforward and understandable, though I was
surprised by how much actual legislation and regulations have been created because humans just
can’t seem to treat each other decently (go figure). I never gave research much thought before, so
reading about vulnerable populations was new to me, and had me muttering to myself, ‘Isn’t this
common sense?’ Well, apparently not to Nazis. I thought it was interesting that a vulnerable
population had to be specifically defined and then the population’s involvement in a study
carefully considered. I was surprised to find that institutionalized persons included those in
correctional facilities, and that those individuals were considered to potentially need additional
protections of considerations, because I had never thought of that aspect of research before.
The “Common Types of Abuses in Human Research” table was depressing, and
reminded me of American Horror Story: Asylum. In that season, an old Nazi general has blended
into 1960s America and conducts disgusting and inhumane research on the asylum’s patients. I
was imagining all the injustices he committed as I read though the types of abuse such as
physical control, undue influence, and manipulation.
Though the fact that these regulations even have to exist is kind of disgusting, I’m glad
that they do and was comforted to read about the various definitions of vulnerability. I suppose I
was comforted that it seemed the National Bioethics Advisory Committee and other
organizations aimed to protect all involved with research, not just the researchers themselves.
The research ethics section was interesting to me as well, since again, I never really
considered all the factors that play out in a research project, regardless of its success. The ethics
of autonomous decision making, beneficence, and justice helped me to reconsider and
understand interactions I had as an undergraduate student, where I was often offered extra credit
for participating in a professor’s research project. While the ethics were self-explanatory, I’m
happy there were thorough explanations and examples to illustrate how each principle operates
within an actual project.
For the elective modules, I chose “Research with Children,” “Research in Public
Elementary and Secondary Schools,” “Internet-Based Research,” and “Research and HIPPA
Privacy Protections.” I figured these were the groups I’d most likely focus on or be exposed to in
my action research project, but I wish I had completed the “Research with Prisoners” model,
since I’m really curious about that section now that I’m reviewing the modules. I already
understood the regulations behind HIPPA and FERPA, but my eyebrows were definitely raised
when I read about how apathetic parents can be to research waivers sent home with their
children. I also thought it was surprising that though children are considered to be a vulnerable
population, there are a handful of ways to include them in exempt research.
For my action research project, I think focusing in the area of ethics is where I’d like to
begin, since the research ethics peaked my interest so heavily. I realize just the topic of “ethics”
is broad, but I don’t want to do a case study that’s already been beaten to death. I want to
possibly find an original take on collection management ethics, or the role of ethics in requiring
patron information such as addresses. I’m not sure how this might play out, but I believe most of
the research I’ll be conducting in the LIS program will be within the scope of academic libraries,
 Tori Linville | LIS 600 Hersberger | IRB Reflection

since I hope to work as an instructional librarian or have some kind of role within a university
library in the future.