Use of Human Subjects in Research at BYU-Idaho

1.All studies using human subjects must be formally approved (including faculty research) as per Code of Federal Regulations, Title 45, Part 46, Protection Of Human Subjects. See federal websites at: and

2.All research, including surveys, should be registered with the university.

Access to the online registration form is provided at:

3. Levels of approval

a.Exempt studiesmay be approved by an instructor who has been properly oriented to applicable university policy and federal law. Examples of exempt studies include:

  • Observational studies with little or no risk to the public.
  • Educational studies such as tests, surveys, observations.
  • Studies where data are recorded so that subjects cannot be identified.
  • Studies where data cannot place subjects at risk for litigation or financial loss.

b.Expedited studies must be approved by Office of Institutional Research. Examples of expedited studies include:

  • Studies which impose minimal risks such as:
  • Blood draws
  • Moderate exercise, strength training
  • Collection of data by voice, video, digital recordings, etc.
  • Physical sensors applied to body surface
  • Surveys, interviews, and focus groups which impose mild risk to subjects
  • Studies which investigate the spiritual or moral characteristics of an LDS population (our requirement, not federal).

c.Fully reviewed studiesmust be approved by the BYU-Idaho Institutional Review Board. Examples of fully reviewed studies include:

  • Studies dealing with sensitive issues such as
  • Honor code violations or legal violations
  • Studies targeting subjects from the following vulnerable populations: pregnant women, minorities, children (all minors), prisoners, terminally ill, elderly (if cognitively impaired), and cognitively disabled.
  • Studies with the potential for psychological harm

3.Criteria for approval of research

  • Risks are minimized and justified in view of anticipated benefits
  • Selection of participants is equitable
  • Adequate provision for anonymity of participants and confidentiality of responses
  • Adequate provision for rights of vulnerable subjects
  • Researchers are qualified
  • Use of human subjects is justified
  • Deception is adequately handled
  • Adequate provision for obtaining informed consent

4.Informed consent

  • Researchers should be clear on how they will inform their subjects about their research and how they will obtain their consent to participate.
  • If the names of subjects are not connected with the data (i.e., data are anonymously collected), then a signed consent form is not required and a statement such as “the return of this survey is your consent to participate in the research” is sufficient. All other research requires a cover letter or statement which contains all necessary information about the study so that subjects can make an informed decision about whether or not to participate in the study and requires a signature from participants signifying their consent to participate.

5.Mitigation of risk to subjects

  • Very few studies have no risks.
  • Researchers must carefully consider and show how they will mitigate all major risks – legal, economic, psychological, emotional, and physical – to subjects:
  • Researchers should demonstrate that they are sensitive to other minor risks: wasting subjects’ time, upsetting subjects, emotional discomfort, invasion of privacy, pain from exercise or physiological intervention.

6.Other issues

  • Student research should not be overly intrusive (unless the intrusiveness serves some defensible research purpose).
  • All research must respect FERPA privacy restrictions.
  • Students should not generate their own samples. Once a study has been registered, the university will provide a sample and any necessary contact information such as email address, phone number, demographics, etc.
  • Students should not request class time from other instructors for research activity.
  • Students are not allowed to mass email employees, including the faculty, with requests to participate in surveys.
  • Student research is not official university business. Therefore, students should not use the university logo or imply that they are representing the university.
  • Research in the community should be conducted in a highlyprofessional manner.
  • Dissemination of sensitive results beyond the classroom should be approved by the Office of Institutional Research.
  • Intercepting or videotaping for research purposes is not allowed in the library.