My IRB wants me to state the possible harms that might come from a survey that does not include any highly sensitive questions. What should I tell them?
A. In some cases, the IRB may want only an explicit statement in the consent information indicating that risks are minimal and are no greater than those encountered in day-to-day life. In other cases, even demographic items might be viewed as “potentially harmful” by some IRBs if, for example, knowledge of income, religious affiliation, or educational attainment might pose a social risk in some contexts if the data were made public. In these cases, the introductory consent information might include disclosure that general items about income and education will be included in the interview. For other surveys of more sensitive topics, possible harms include embarrassment, psychological distress, or discomfort as a result of question content (e.g., surveys of private behaviors, abuse, or crime victimization). Some IRBs may require investigators to include the explicit statement that respondents may skip any item that they do not wish to answer. Additionally, mere contact may put a potentia
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