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Confidentiality and Informed Consent

Each study at the Office for Survey Research (OSR) at Michigan State University's Institute for Public Policy and Social Research (IPPSR) that involves collecting data on human beings is required to be reviewed in some depth to ensure that it does not unduly invade the privacy of the subjects, or fail to protect the confidentiality of the information obtained, or fail to allow subjects an opportunity to make an informed decision whether to participate in the study or not. Consequently, all studies collecting data on individuals must submit documents to the University Committee for Research Involving Human Subjects (UCRIHS) so that the study's procedures can be reviewed for compliance with professional and ethical standards.

Most surveys fall into a category of "EXEMPT" which means that they are exempt from review by the full UCRIHS committee. Rather, a single member of the committee is usually asked to review the documents. Documents for UCRIHS will generally require descriptions of the sample, how individuals are selected, the type of information to be obtained, how identities will be protected, the level of the risk to the subjects the study poses, and a copy of the survey instrument, including a copy of the confidentiality and informed consent statement to be presented to respondents.

The following is an example of a confidentiality/informed consent statement that OSR has used in past telephone surveys and was found acceptable by UCRIHS:

"Before we begin, let me tell you that any information you give me will be kept strictly confidential. Your confidentiality will be protected to the maximum extent allowable by law. Let me also tell you that this interview is completely voluntary. Should we come to any question that you don't want to answer, just let me know and we'll go on to the next question. For quality control purposes, this telephone call may be monitored by one of my supervisors"

As a general policy, OSR will not begin actual data collection on a survey project until it has received clearance from UCRIHS.

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