What is Research? - Hampshire College

Research is a process of systematic inquiry that entails collection of data; documentation of critical information; and analysis and interpretation of that ... WhatisResearch? Researchisaprocessofsystematicinquirythatentailscollectionofdata;documentationofcriticalinformation;andanalysisandinterpretationofthatdata/information,inaccordancewithsuitablemethodologiessetbyspecificprofessionalfieldsandacademicdisciplines. Researchisconductedto... Evaluatethevalidityofahypothesisoraninterpretiveframework. Toassembleabodyofsubstantiveknowledgeandfindingsforsharingtheminappropriatemanners. Tohelpgeneratequestionsforfurtherinquiries. IfyouwouldlikefurtherexamplesofspecificwaysdifferentschoolsatHampshirethinkaboutresearch,see:SchoolDefinitionsofResearch»Whatis"research"thatneedstobereviewedandapprovedbytheInstitutionalReviewBoardatHampshirebeforeproceeding?  ResearchshouldbereviewedbytheIRBonlywhenhumansubjectsareinvolved,andthetermresearchshouldbeconsideredunderamorenarrowdefinition.Specifically,whentheresearcherisconductingresearchasoutlinedaboveANDhasdirectinteractionwithparticipantsordatalinkedtopersonalidentifiers,itshouldalwaysfallunderthepurviewoftheIRB.Evenifyouhavenotdirectlycollectedthedatayourself,astheresearcher,yourresearchmayfallunderthepurviewoftheIRB. Inreviewingsuchresearch,theIRBisconcernedwiththemethodologyofdatacollectioninthe"field"(e.g.collection,experimentation,interview,participantobservation,etc.)andtheuseofthedata. Thebroadervalidityofthehypothesesorresearchquestions,andthequalityofinferencesthatmayresult(unless,ofcourse,theresearchmethodologiesseverelycompromisethedatacollectionanddatausagedirectly),isnotsomethingtheywillbe evaluating. WhatifIamusinginformationthatisalreadyavailable? Ifyouaredoingresearchthatislimitedtosecondaryanalysisofdata,records,orspecimensthatareeitherpubliclyavailable,de-identified,orotherwiseimpossibletobelinkedtopersonalidentities,youmaystillneedIRBapprovaltodoyourproject.Sometimesadatauseagreementbetweentheresearcherandthedatacustodianmaystillberequiredtoverifythattheresearcherwillnothaveaccesstoidentifyingcodes. This"de-linking"ofdatafrompersonalidentifiers allowstheIRBtomakethisdetermination.Regardless,youshouldsubmitanIRBproposalsotheIRBcandeterminewhetheryourprojectneedsIRBreview,andifso,thetypeofreviewrequired. ForspecificsofwhatresearchshouldbereviewedbytheIRBandthecategoryofreviewrequired,seetheflowchartandexamplesprovided. StayInTouch WithIRB SnailMail InstitutionalReviewBoardMailCodeDOHampshireCollege 893WestStreet Amherst,MA01002 Phone+Email 413.559.5781Fax:[email protected]