[Web4lib] academic libraries: oversight for usability tests

[susan teague-rector]

Hi Clayton,

Last year we submitted our larger usability study information to the 
university IRB. After they reviewed all of the information, they 
concluded that the study fell under the exempt category (which I think 
all usability studies do). We're also doing rapid prototype testing and 
not going through IRB. I tend to think that if you're going to publish 
about the study itself, you should probably play it safe and send your 
documents to IRB (most likely, it will fall under exempt). If you're not 
going to publish, I would not do all of the IRB paperwork as it's pretty 
involved.

Hope this helps

Susan
Web Applications Manager
VCU Libraries

Clayton Crenshaw wrote:
> We are developing an active, ongoing program of usability testing for
> our library website.  The staff members for our local institutional
> review board are taking the position that every word of every test that
> we administer must have their approval.  Yet I read about other academic
> libraries doing "rapid" and "fast-track" development, which doesn't seem
> possible in such a scenario.  
>
> My question:  What does your IRB office require for website usability
> testing, and do you have to submit everything to them in advance?  If
> it's something less than that, please describe the level of oversight. 
> If you have avoided this issue, either by not publishing your research
> results or by other means, then I'd like to know that too.
>
> Thank you,
>
>
> Clayton Crenshaw
> Web Services Librarian
> Gibson D. Lewis Health Science Library
> University of North Texas Health Science Center
> 817.735.5070
> 3500 Camp Bowie Boulevard
>
>
>
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