Then you need approval from CMU to conduct your research. The task of the IRB is to enforce federal regulations and to protect the rights of human subjects, because anyone participating in a study has a right to know about the presence of risk or potential risk. Before any research data is gathered the IRB must approve the research project and its methods.
Risk can be physical as well as psychological.
Survey respondents can be at risk if their individual responses are not kept confidential. Receipt of federal funding is jeopardized if an institution is found to be not in compliance with federal regulations guiding the use of human subjects. Student researchers are personally liable if they expose subjects to a known risk. It is the job of the faculty monitor to work with the researcher and the IRB to ensure compliance and to minimize risk. All MSA 685 students must obtain IRB approval prior to collecting data.