Does research involving surveys and questionnaires need IRB approval?
Yes, the form of the study does not matter as much as the content of the study. In other words, the IRB determines the level of review based on the degree of risk to the participant. For example, a survey that asks participants to describe their criminal behavior would most likely be given a full review whereas an experiment involving varying types of management procedures would most likely be considered worthy of expedited review. If you are unsure about your particular study, contact the IRB Administrator at 404.894.6942.
