Use of Human Subjects in Research  

Case Studies  

Survey Research 

Your research group knows that certain categories of human subjects research in which subjects face only a minimal risk may qualify for an expedited panel review. One of the categories qualifying for an expedited review is "survey research," i.e., research on individual or group characteristics or behavior, or research employing surveys, interviews, oral histories, focus groups, etc.

As this is a survey project posing little or no physical risk to participants, your group prepares a protocol explaining your project and methodology, and requesting an expedited review. You submit the protocol to Stanford's Administrative Panel on Human Subjects in Nonmedical Research.

Which of the following is the most likely action to be taken by the Panel?

1. The application is expedited and approved on the basis of minimal risk to participants.
   
   
2. The application is returned without approval as it is considered by the Panel to be an inappropriate research project.
   
   
3. The application is re-routed for regular, rather than expedited, review.
   
   

This case study continues with a brief analysis of each of these outcomes.