ERC Frequently Asked Questions
General Questions
- How many research proposals will MMSD approve per year?
- How long does the ERC review process typically take from proposal submission to final approval?
How many research proposals will MMSD approve per year?
How long does the ERC review process typically take from proposal submission to final approval?
Questions Regarding IRB/HSRB
- Why do I need both IRB/HSRB and ERC review?
- May I apply for ERC review with the condition that I will apply to the IRB/HSRB if approved?
- Do I need ERC approval for a research study done for a graduate or undergraduate class, even if I am not required to go through the IRB/HSRB process?
- Is there anything I should know regarding ERC and conducting action research as part of a degree program?
- If my research is certified by the IRB as not being human subjects research, do I still need to prepare consent/assent materials for the ERC?
Why do I need both IRB/HSRB and ERC review?
May I apply for ERC review with the condition that I will apply to the IRB/HSRB if approved?
Do I need ERC approval for a research study done for a graduate or undergraduate class, even if I am not required to go through the IRB/HSRB process?
Is there anything I should know regarding ERC and conducting action research as part of a degree program?
If my research is certified by the IRB as not being human subjects research, do I still need to prepare consent/assent materials for the ERC?
Questions Regarding Recruitment
- May I reach out to MMSD principals and/or teachers to gauge interest in a project before applying for ERC review?
- Do I need to submit to ERC if I want to conduct a research project at the school where I work and the principal is already aware?
- Do I need to go through ERC review if I am recruiting participants from MMSD, but the research will take place outside of school hours and not involve class activities?
- Do I need to go through ERC approval if I plan to use publicly-available MMSD email addresses to recruit participants in my study?
- I want to recruit MMSD staff to participate in my research project outside of contract hours. Since the project will happen outside that time, do I need to go through ERC review?
- May I target recruitment materials to specific student populations?
- May MMSD staff help with the recruitment process by identifying potential participants, distributing and/or collecting consent forms, or providing contact information for students and/or families for targeted follow up?
May I reach out to MMSD principals and/or teachers to gauge interest in a project before applying for ERC review?
Do I need to submit to ERC if I want to conduct a research project at the school where I work and the principal is already aware?
Do I need to go through ERC review if I am recruiting participants from MMSD, but the research will take place outside of school hours and not involve class activities?
Do I need to go through ERC approval if I plan to use publicly-available MMSD email addresses to recruit participants in my study?
I want to recruit MMSD staff to participate in my research project outside of contract hours. Since the project will happen outside that time, do I need to go through ERC review?
May I target recruitment materials to specific student populations?
May MMSD staff help with the recruitment process by identifying potential participants, distributing and/or collecting consent forms, or providing contact information for students and/or families for targeted follow up?
Question Regarding Consent/Assent Materials
Questions Regarding Proposal Submission
- May I pay MMSD staff to participate in my study?
- Will the district approve proposals that include free/reduced lunch status as part of requested administrative data?
- Will MMSD approve a study that uses instructional time to conduct research activities (e.g., implementing a science video game during science class, pulling a student from class to complete a survey, etc.)?
- May MMSD provide copies of consent forms in Spanish or other languages?
May I pay MMSD staff to participate in my study?
Will the district approve proposals that include free/reduced lunch status as part of requested administrative data?
Will MMSD approve a study that uses instructional time to conduct research activities (e.g., implementing a science video game during science class, pulling a student from class to complete a survey, etc.)?
May MMSD provide copies of consent forms in Spanish or other languages?
Questions Regarding Notification and Access
- What are the responses I can receive from ERC?
- My proposal was tabled by ERC, but I'd still like to move forward. What are my next steps?
- My study only requires distribution of recruitment materials in MMSD, and I will not have any contact with students at MMSD. Do I still need to complete the CMR and CRC requirements?
- Do I need to complete a CMR and/or CRC if I have completed one for a previously approved project?
- Do I need to complete a CMR and/or CRC if I am an out-of-state researcher?