Smog testing with human subjects in 1956. Source: Los Angeles Times
When conducting empirical research, students will often want to conduct a survey, observe, or host focus groups of their peers, children, or other groups of people. This is research that uses humans as subjects of research. Federal law protects the rights of persons involved as subjects of research, particularly the rights of privacy and confidentiality.
Each university's research office is required to have an Institutional Review Board, or IRB, to review all proposed research to be conducted by faculty, staff, and students that involves human subjects.
Texas A&M University-San Antonio has an IRB. For more information about A&M-San Antonio procedures, visit the IRB website.
One of the requirements for getting your research approved through an IRB is to have undergone specific training in research ethics. Texas A&M University-San Antonio uses a program created by the University of Miami called The Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI Program). You will need to go through some of their training modules and quizzes in order to qualify as a student researcher here at A&M-SA. Below you will find a link to a handout describing how to complete your training as well as a link directly to the CITI homepage.