External Researchers

The Institutional Review Board (IRB) at Marquette University (MU) has oversight for research involving humans as subjects where MU students, faculty, or staff are actively engaged. If MU personnel are obtaining consent, collecting data, intervening/interacting with subjects, receiving/accessing private identifiable data, formal MU IRB submission, review, and approval will most likely be needed.

MU understands the importance researchers play in advancing the state of knowledge in their field. Additionally, it is necessary to ensure that research is conducted ethically and in compliance with all relevant laws, regulations, and institutional requirements.

This page is not intended for MU personnel who are actively engaged. MU personnel engaged in human subjects research will need either MU IRB approval or a reliance request.

Contact the IRB office orc@marquette.edu if you unsure and need additional guidance.

This page serves as a guide for researchers not formally affiliated with MU who may be requesting:

• assistance with recruitment
• invite MU students, faculty, or staff as research participants
• utilize MU space for posting recruitment materials
• conduct research activities (e.g., surveys, interviews. etc.) on MU premises
• data held by a specific office or department at MU

The IRB recommends exernal researchers do the following:

1. 1. Receive IRB (or equivalent) approval for the study from their home institution.*
   2. If the external researcher is a student, the project should be conducted with proper oversight from their advisor, mentor, and/or dissertation committee.
   3. Receive permission from the department head or MU liaison based on the research purpose, goals, and activities involved. Documenting the permission is suggested.
   4. Projects soliciting 100 or more Marquette students, employees, or alumni as participants will require advanced approval by the Online Survey Review Group.
   5. Plan for the availability and accessibility of the population or individuals that the researcher wants to study.
   6. Plan for potential logistical or operational challenges that may need to be addressed during the conduct of the research, such as data collection, transmission, and storage.
   7. Address any potential ethical considerations that may need to be addressed during the conduct of the research, such as privacy and consent.
   8. Consider other legal, regulatory, or ethical issues. For instance: researcher’s professional codes and guidelines, home institution requirements, special considerations for research populations, HIPAA authorizations/waivers, FERPA requests, etc.

*NOTE: If this project has not received IRB or equivalent approval from the external researcher, email orc@marquette.edu with your contact information, a description of your project, and how MU will be involved.