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Andy Newman, ITF, Brooklyn College anewman@gc.cuny.edu. Oral Histories: What you need to know before going into the field…. What is the IRB?.
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Andy Newman, ITF, Brooklyn College anewman@gc.cuny.edu Oral Histories: What you need to know before going into the field…
What is the IRB? • An IRB (Institutional Review Board for human participants) is a group of at least five individuals with varying backgrounds to promote complete and adequate review of research studies. An IRB conducts the initial and annual reviews of a research study.
What is a human participant? • A human participant is a living individual about whom a researcher obtains data through intervention or interaction (interviews) with the individual, or through identifiable private information (data with identifiers).
What/who is at “risk” in interviews? • Research participants may be exposed to physical, psychological social and economic risks. • What types of risk could come up in your research projects?
What/who is at “risk” in interviews? • Legal risks? (immigration status, criminal records, etc.)
What/who is at “risk” in interviews? • Legal risks? (immigration status, criminal records, etc.) • Moral/ethical risk? (embarrassment, psychological discomfort, etc.)
What/who is at “risk” in interviews? • You may be at risk! These individuals are strangers, so: • Be wary of accepting invitations to visit participants at home (go in groups of two or more.) • Arrange interviews in public places (coffee shops are always a good bet.)
Protecting your research participants: key terms • Anonymity means the researcher has no record of the identity of the participants. • Confidentiality means the researcher knows the identity of the participants but will keep the participants' identity and all identifying characteristics confidential.
Guarding confidentiality on a web-based project • Use pseudonyms for your research subjects. • Use pseudonyms for living people who your research subject describes. • EXCEPTION: public figures (i.e. politicians and celebrities can be named.) • DO include biographical details. • DON’T name names or use information that could compromise your participants’ privacy.
Interviewing 101 • Be polite and gracious (these people are volunteering their time to help with you with your class project!). • Be appreciative in your words and actions. • Don’t forget: you are representing Brooklyn College (and MHC!) to the community in this situation.
Interviewing 101 • Ask permission to record, photograph, and video (Do not secretly record or otherwise deceive your research participants!) • Be open about what you are researching, what you want to know, and why you are doing the project. You should have nothing to hide from your participants.
Interviewing 101 • DO arrive prepared with a list of questions. • DON’T be afraid to be spontaneous or let interviews digress. The best answers are often to the questions you didn’t know you should ask! • Ask for examples and details. • Don’t assume you know the history (even if you think you do): always get their stories on how it was for them.