Lesson Report:
### Class Summary Report
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#### Title: **IRB Overview and Hypothesis Refinement for Senior Thesis**
**Synopsis:**
This class focused on two primary objectives: ensuring that students understand the procedures associated with Institutional Review Board (IRB) approvals and refining research questions into hypotheses for senior thesis work. The session began with administrative reminders about critical deadlines and requirements, including the submission of the senior thesis supervision form and homework assignments, then transitioned into a detailed explanation of IRB processes, including how and when students need to apply for IRB approval. A significant part of the class involved activities where students determined whether different research scenarios required IRB approval (exempt, expedited, or full-review). The session concluded with instructions for refining research questions into hypotheses and emphasized the need for students to engage with their supervisors for guidance.
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#### Attendance:
– **Number of students absent:** 5
Masra, Nodula, Amira (Email Excuse Sent), Masiha (Hospital), and Bobur
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#### Topics Covered:
1. **Administrative Reminders:**
– **Senior Thesis Supervision Forms**: Due 2 weeks ago, but many students hadn’t submitted. Final deadline presented as 5 PM Bishkek time.
– **Homework Submission**: Issue identified where only two students had submitted. Students were instructed to submit immediately to avoid falling behind.
2. **Introduction to IRB (Institutional Review Board):**
– **What is IRB?**: Explained its role in reviewing human subject research for ethical compliance, particularly in projects involving vulnerable populations, sensitive topics, or identifiable human data.
– **Purpose of IRB**: Focused on ethics, confidentiality, informed consent, and risk-benefit balance.
– **When IRB is Needed**:
– Exempt Projects: Minimal risk, data collection from public sources, non-identifiable surveys.
– Expedited Review Projects: Low-sensitive data collection, limited risk, and addressing less vulnerable groups (e.g., AUCA professors).
– Full Board Review Projects: Involves vulnerable groups (e.g., children, refugees), sensitive topics, potential legal risks, or invasive procedures.
3. **Detailed Scenario-Based Activity:**
– Students worked with five hypothetical research questions to determine if projects required IRB approval (exempt, expedited, or full board).
– Discussed the ethical implications of each example, emphasizing topics such as anonymity, data sensitivity, political and controversial topics, and vulnerable populations.
4. **Checklist for IRB Application:**
– Showcased critical materials necessary for IRB submission, including the research proposal, consent forms, recruitment materials, and eventually post-data collection summaries.
– Shared the IRB Engine Website link for online submissions.
– Highlighted deadlines: October 7th (for the courageous), November 4th (recommended), and December 9th (latest possible for those requiring full board review).
5. **Building from Research Question to Hypothesis:**
– Brief discussion on taking existing research questions and forming them into testable hypotheses.
– Mentioned discussion in the upcoming session for refining topic-specific hypotheses and performing operationalization and conceptualization.
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#### Actionable Items:
1. **Urgent:**
– Any student who has not yet submitted their **Senior Thesis Supervision Agreement Form** must do so by 5 PM today to avoid thesis cancellation.
– **Homework:**
– Ensure all missing homework assignments are uploaded to eCores immediately.
2. **Moderate:**
– Students who require IRB approval should:
– Begin studying the **IRB process using the provided checklist** and start assembling necessary forms/documents.
– Aim for the **November 4th IRB submission deadline** for expedited/full board review, or sooner if ready.
– Complete the mandatory **IRB Annual Exam** on the IRB engine website.
– Consult supervisors regarding **IRB category recommendations** (exempt, expedited, or full review).
3. **General Class Progress:**
– Continue working on turning **research questions into clear hypotheses**. Discuss with instructors or supervisors in upcoming meetings.
– Prepare for comprehensive hypothesis building activities in the next session.
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This report captures the administrative concerns, academic aims, and lesson progression with detailed coverage to revisit the lesson context when needed.
Homework Instructions:
ASSIGNMENT #1: Senior Thesis Supervision Agreement Form
In this task, you need to complete the Senior Thesis Supervision Agreement Form to ensure your thesis timeline and supervisor are formally set. This task ensures you officially begin the thesis process and confirm your supervisor, which is essential for graduation. Failure to complete this will hinder your progress toward your senior thesis and may delay graduation.
Instructions:
1. Complete the Senior Thesis Supervision Agreement Form (if you haven’t already). This form should have been submitted by two weeks ago, but a final submission is required by 5 p.m. today.
2. If you have not yet submitted this form, submit it to the eCourse platform immediately. Reach out to me before the 5 p.m. deadline if you have concerns about the submission, cannot find the form, or need assistance.
3. If your supervisor has changed or you need any clarifications, be sure to provide updated information in the form or contact me for further help.
4. Contact me if you face any confusion regarding the form or the process to avoid complications that could lead to cancellation of your Senior Thesis project and, thereby, impact your ability to graduate on time.
ASSIGNMENT #2: Written Assignment Submission
This assignment includes the written components you’ve been working on throughout the course. You must ensure all outstanding written assignments are completed and submitted for grading as these play a significant role in final grading. The purpose of this task is to assess your progress and understanding of your thesis work, ensuring you remain on track.
Instructions:
1. Review any written assignments you have not yet submitted. Check on eCourse to confirm which assignments are still pending.
2. Ensure the submissions are formatted correctly according to the guidelines provided earlier in the course (if unsure, reach out to me for clarification).
3. Immediately upload your completed written assignments if you haven’t done so. Reach out to me if you faced technical difficulties with the system when attempting to turn in your work.
4. Keep in mind that failure to submit these assignments on time will severely affect your ability to pass the course since these components amount to a significant portion of your final grade.
5. Always contact me if there’s confusion regarding the written assignment tasks or their submission.