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A newly established psychiatric hospital receiving federal funding is forming its first Institutional Review Board (IRB) to review proposed psychological studies. The hospital administration suggests a committee consisting of three clinical psychologists from the hospital staff, one hospital financial director, and one psychiatric nurse also employed by the hospital. Explain whether this proposed committee meets the federal composition requirements for an IRB, referencing specific criteria. Then, outline the primary responsibilities this committee will have once established.

Question: A newly established psychiatric hospital receiving federal funding is forming its first Institutional Review Board (IRB) to review proposed psychological studies. The hospital administration suggests a committee consisting of three clinical psychologists from the hospital staff, one hospital financial director, and one psychiatric nurse also employed by the hospital. Explain whether this proposed committee meets the federal composition requirements for an IRB, referencing specific criteria. Then, outline the primary responsibilities this committee will have once established.

Sample answer: The proposed committee does not meet federal composition requirements. While it has five members, all five are affiliated with the hospital, violating the requirement that at least one member must be unaffiliated with the institution. Additionally, it fails to ensure diverse backgrounds including scientists and nonscientists, as all members are in scientific/medical fields (psychologists, nurse) or administration (financial director). Once a valid board is established, its responsibilities will be to review research protocols to ensure risks to participants are minimized, benefits outweigh risks, research is conducted fairly, and informed consent procedures are adequate.

Key points:

  • Identify that the proposed committee fails to include at least one person unaffiliated with the institution.
  • Explain that the committee must have at least five members with diverse backgrounds, including scientists and nonscientists.
  • State the IRB's responsibility to review research protocols for potential ethical problems.
  • List the core IRB duties: minimize risks, ensure benefits outweigh risks, conduct research fairly, and verify adequate informed consent procedures.

Rubric: The response must evaluate the proposed IRB composition against federal guidelines (at least five members, scientist and nonscientist representation, and at least one unaffiliated member) and identify the failure to include an unaffiliated member. It must also list the primary responsibilities of the IRB: minimizing risks, ensuring benefits outweigh risks, conducting research fairly, and ensuring adequate informed consent.

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Updated 2026-05-27

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Research Methods in Psychology - 4th American Edition @ KPU

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