Do oral history projects require IRB review?
A. Most oral history interviewing projects do not require IRB review. The Oral History Association defines oral history as “a method of gathering and preserving historical information through recorded interviews with participants in past events and ways of life”. In general, these projects are not designed to contribute to generalizable knowledge, they are explaining a particular past, not creating general explanations about all that has happened in the past, nor do they predict the future. As such, true oral history projects do not meet the definition of research from the federal regulations (45 CFR 46), and as such, do no require IRB review. If you have questions about whether your project goes beyond oral history, please contact the office for assistance.
