How does Missouri State University define human subjects?
Human subject means a living individual about whom an investigator (whether professional or student) conducting research obtains (a) data through intervention or interaction with the individual, or (b) identifiable private information. Intervention includes both physical procedures by which data are gathered (e.g., venipuncture) and manipulations of the subject or the subject’s environment that are performed for research purposes (e.g., cognitive experiment). Interaction includes communication or interpersonal contact between investigator and human subject (e.g., a telephone interview). Private information includes information about behavior that occurs in a context in which an individual can reasonably expect that no observation or recording is taking place, and information which has been provided for specific purposes by an individual and which he or she can reasonably expect will not be made public (e.g., a medical record). Private information must be individually identifiable (i.e.
