[Web4lib] academic libraries: oversight for usability tests

[McAulay, Elizabeth]

Hi Clayton,

The experience of a group here at UCLA Library has been a little mixed,
too. Although the message we received from the IRB office is that unless
we plan to publish or publicize the results, then we do not need review.
The studies we have passed through IRB have been as being under the
exempt category. The only way, I think, to do rapid usability testing is
to be able to bypass an IRB review. So, we're taking the approach of
choosing to do more formal testing and publishing sometimes and less
formal other times.

Best,
Lisa

Elizabeth "Lisa" McAulay
Librarian for Digital Collection Development
Digital Library Program
UCLA Library
390 Powell Library Building
Box 957201
Los Angeles, CA 90095-7201
(310) 825-7657
email: emcaulay at library.ucla.edu


> -----Original Message-----
> From: web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org [mailto:web4lib-
> bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of susan teague-rector
> Sent: Wednesday, September 02, 2009 2:06 PM
> To: Clayton Crenshaw
> Cc: roytennant at gmail.com; web4lib at webjunction.org
> Subject: Re: [Web4lib] academic libraries: oversight for usability
> tests
> 
> 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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> 
> 
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