Does Oral History Research need IRB review?
It depends. If the archived data will be made publicly available then the research must be prospectively reviewed and approved by the BC IRB before the research project begins. The IRB requires that the researcher make provisions for obtaining informed consent from all participants and document the process. Participants in oral history projects should be allowed to review the material prior to public archive and decide if they do not wish any or all of the oral history archived.
