IRB Resources
Steps for Submitting an IRB Protocol - Visit this page for step by step instructions on the IRB submission process.
Handout comparing QI /QA / EBP / HSR Projects - For Nursing students (especially those with DNP projects); this handout explains the similarities and differences of quality improvement / quality assurance projects, evidence based practice projects, and human subjects research projects to help determine whether IRB review is required.
Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP)
OHRP website for Common Findings of Noncompliance
QuestionPro is a survey development tool that allows faculty, staff, and students to create and conduct unlimited surveys for University-related academic or administrative purposes. The tool offers a range of features to create web forms, conduct offline research studies, collect and analyze data, and more. To access QuestionPro, please visit myapps.uta.edu and log in using your UTA NetID and password. Navigate to the QuestionPro tile and click to sign in. For more information on QuestionPro, visit https://go.uta.edu/survey.
ResearchMatch: Find volunteers to enroll in your studies.
UTA participates in ResearchMatch, an online recruitment platform that connects researchers with volunteers who are interested in learning about study opportunities. ResearchMatch registry's design is institution-neutral and disease-neutral, allowing anyone residing in the United States to self-register as a potential research participant. The registry is available at no cost to volunteers and to all participating institution researchers. The ResearchMatch system employs a 'matching' model - volunteers self-register and researchers search for volunteers for their studies. It's convenient, easy to use, and relieves the burden of searching for the right study from the volunteer. ResearchMatch promotes volunteer choice, as there is no obligation for volunteers to participate in studies. The system is safe and secure. All volunteer information, including contact information, is kept confidential until the volunteer decides to release it when showing interest in a study.
In order to create an account with ResearchMatch, researchers will need to submit an IRB protocol with ResearchMatch listed as one of their recruitment methods. In order for the IRB to approve this recruitment method, the following items will need to be described in the protocol application or attached to the submission in Mentis:
- The recruitment post that will be used. It should be noted that posts must be less than 2,000 characters and cannot contain any contact information for the study team.
- Procedures for protecting confidentiality of the data received from ResearchMatch
- Since no links to pre-screening measures, consent forms, or surveys can be used in the recruitment message, details about contacting subjects once they've shown interest in the study should be addressed in the protocol application.
- The Office of Regulatory Services (ORS) will generate the protocol approval letter and upload it to your protocol in Mentis (the approval will be needed for your study in ResearchMatch.
- ORS will activate your "authorization for recruitment" in ResearchMatch.
- Once your authorization is activated, you may begin the account registration process.
For additional guidance on the account registration process, we have created the following guidance that offers step-by-step instructions for setting up your study record: ResearchMatch Guidance. ResearchMatch also has an instructional video on their YouTube channel that will walk you through the process: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4D96BtLYdLrrmp6a9SQFf0HBgw7H12G7 as well as a tutorial on adding a study and contacting volunteers which can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOXcrzqirlk.
ResearchMatch has many resources available for researchers to use once they have created their account and have approval to begin utilizing the platform. Since IRB approval is needed before you can obtain your account, we have listed a few frequently asked questions below that we commonly receive during the IRB review process. Feel free to reach out to RegulatoryServices@uta.edu if your question has not been answered!
- Once researchers have IRB approval to utilize ResearchMatch, where can I find more guidance on navigating the site and utilizing the platform?
- Once you have been granted access to utilize ResearchMatch you can access all of their 'Education' resources that are provided to assist you with utilizing this platform. They offer tips for researchers as well as tutorials for how to add a study, search for volunteers, and much more! These resources can be found at the bottom of your Researcher Dashboard.
- Are researchers required to issue subjects compensation when utilizing ResearchMatch?
- Researchers are not required to compensate subjects when utilizing ResearchMatch as a recruitment platform. If your study is approved with compensation, your recruitment post can mention the compensation subjects can expect with participation, but it is not a required element for using the platform.
- How do researchers recruit subjects if they are not allowed to include links or contact information in their posts?
- Once you've received IRB approval and your post has been activated in ResearchMatch, interested individuals can opt to be contacted about your study. When they show interest in your study, they allow their contact information to be shared with the research team. Once the research team has been provided with contact information for the interested individuals, the IRB-approved follow-up procedures can be followed to reach out and initiate the pre-screening or consent processes.
- Can a pre-screening survey be in included in my post on ResearchMatch?
- Right now, ResearchMatch only allows for surveys created on RedCap to be linked to recruitment posts. At this time, RedCap is not on UTA's list of pre-approved survey software which can be checked here: Technology Acquisition Helper - https://webapp.uta.edu/tap/pages/instructions.
- Is there anything that needs to be updated on my record while I am actively recruiting?
- If you submit a modification to change your recruitment message or methods, or if personnel who previously had access to your record have been removed from your study personnel, you will need to ensure that ResearchMatch is up to date. If you no longer intend to utilize ResearchMatch as a recruitment method, you will be asked to disable the study.
- Who can have access to the study record in ResearchMatch?
- The PI should be the person who creates the study record for IRB approval. Once the record has been approved for recruitment, you are welcome to add additional researchers to assist with the recruitment process. Anyone outside of the study PI will be listed on the record as a Proxy. Once the record has been approved, the study personnel can join the platform as a researcher and during the registration process, they can select that they would like to join an existing study. This will pull up a form that requests details about the IRB study they would like to join.
- Is there a limit to how many volunteers I can contact?
- ResearchMatch allows researchers to contact up to 1,500 volunteers at one time. When creating searches, the 'Save Your Search' function allows you to conduct additional searches at a later time.
- Once my study is ready to be closed, what do I do with my ResearchMatch record?
- Your ResearchMatch record will remain active as long as you have active IRB approval. Once you request to have your study closed by the UTA IRB, you should also log into ResearchMatch and 'disable' your record. This option appears as the bottom of your study record. If you need assistance with disabling your record, please contact RegulatoryServices@uta.edu and we can assist with this process.