The importance and need to have an Internal Review Board cannot be overlooked. Successful research is very much dependent on the effectiveness of an IRB. Internal Review Boards are mainly set in order to guide the steps that are taken by researchers, especially in research that involves human subjects. Through the IRB, ethical codes of conduct can be easily communicated to the researchers in order to eliminate any risks that the respondents may be subjected to.
It is also the sole purpose of the IRB to review an institution’s program with a view to developing guidelines to ensure that all the research practices comply with the federal and state regulations. The body is also charged with the responsibility of being an advisory channel for the top research persons. This enables easy consultation in times of disputed issues. These are a few among many other issues that make IRBs relevant for successful research.
Research Ethical Issues
There are many research ethical issues that any researcher must present at the time of development of the research proposal. Protection of the natural environment is one of the current concerns when it comes to research. The people involved have to ensure that all the activities in the field study do not pose harm to the natural environment. in addition to environmental issues, there are also legal, financial, social, and moral considerations. The researchers have to elaborate on all these before embarking on the research itself.
Challenges Experienced in the absence of an IRB
Without an IRB, students are likely to miss direction as per what is expected from them. This comes due to lack of a consultation body where critical concerns can be fully addressed. In addition, the students may fail to go by the legal requirements due to insufficient information.