Student Practica
Student Practica (also known as Research Practica) refers to projects conducted by undergraduate or graduate students in order for them to gain experience in research methods during a particular course (e.g., survey, interview, etc.). Practica are NOT generalizeable research projects and, therefore, can not be used for thesis work, pilot studies, presentation, or publication (including any CSI or CUNY event or publication).
The faculty advisor (ussually the course instructor) takes full responsibility for all practica activities. CITI Human Subjects Training is recommended of all students doing practica and their course instructor/faculty advisor. The CSI HRPP Office strongly recommends that the student or faculty advisor submit Certification of CITI Human Subjects Training to the campus HRPP Office via IRBNet with a Research Determination form (found in IRBNet). In some cases, when students in a course are all using similar methods of recruitment and data collection, instructors may submit an aggregate proposal. However, a list of students' names and certification of CITI Human Subjects training (for all students and the faculty member) is to be submitted with the Research Determination Form. Why the CSI HRPP Office strongly recommends this - Because, doing so provides a written decision form the HRPP Office regarding the project. Such a document can be useful when conducting practice exercises with humans. In addition, should you decide at a later date to inquire about IRB approval for previously collected data, this letter will be evidence of the PIs original intention to not publish, but rather use the project for educational purposes only.
Results of student practica may NOT be published or presented at professional meetings/conferences as research findings, nor can results be used as pilot study data.
Additional requirements in order for a project to be considered as Student Practica are:
- The project is not being funded
- The project is not going to be utilized as a thesis (honors, graduate, or doctoral)
- The project is not intended for presentation at a professional meeting (including a CUNY or CSI conference)
- The project is not intended for publication
- There is no more than minimal risk for the project's participants (subjects)
- The project will not include the collection of information regarding: illegal activities; information that could cause emotional distress to subjects; or information which would place the student (investigator) or the subject at risk
- The project will not use or disclose health related information
- The project will not include the use information which would put the subject at risk if confidentiality were breached
- The data is not intended for use as pilot data
- The data must be recorded anonymously by the student (i.e., with no images, audio, names, social security numbers, or any other codes that can be linked to a list of names)
- The student and the faculty advisor (course instructor) have both completed the required CITI Human Subjects Training
If the project involves research with human subjects and does not meet all of the above criteria, it is not considered Student Practica. Therefore, the project will require the student and his/her faculty advisor to submit a completed IRB Application for Approval via IRBNet.
The HRPP Office and The UI-IRB must review and approve a project involving humans as subjects before the project begins.
If any doubts exist concerning the classification of projects as Student Practica, course instructors are advised to complete a Research Determination form via IRBNet.
CITI Human Subjects Training instructions for: