Research Policy
Marlboro College encourages honesty, responsibility, and due regard for ethical principles in all research conducted by students, faculty and staff. Marlboro College retains the authority, as part of its institutional research and assessment, to collect and review data about students, instructors, and staff and will use such data responsibly. Faculty are expected to guide students in the selection of topics, research design, responsible gathering and reporting of data, and ethical considerations. Students are required to be familiar with research standards appropriate to their academic discipline and to indicate that their Plan research has been conducted in accordance with those principles. The College sponsors annual workshops on research principles and practices. A handbook of research issues, disciplinary guidelines and sample forms in available from the office of the Dean of Faculty and online at the Academic Integrity page of the College web site.
Review of Research with Human and Animal Subjects
Acknowledging that a single set of criteria for ethical research cannot be applied across all disciplines, the College recognizes its special responsibility to protect human and animal subjects of research. All Marlboro faculty, staff, and students who undertake College-sponsored research using human or animal subjects are required to comply with the guidelines for ethical practices established by their discipline, and to submit a research proposal to the Research Review Committee. "College-sponsored research" is defined as any research for credit or conducted using College resources. Anonymous opinion surveys on non-sensitive topics conducted by Marlboro faculty, staff, or students are not considered "research" under this policy.
Faculty assigning student research with human or animal subjects as part of a course need not submit a proposal, unless the instructor chooses to invite committee review.
Outside individuals and groups wishing to use the Marlboro faculty, staff or students as subjects of research, even in an anonymous survey, are required to submit a written proposal to the Research Review Committee outlining the nature and proposed use of the research.
Review Procedure
Proposals for research with human or animal subjects should be delivered to the Research Review Committee at least one month before the proposal research is to begin. Student proposals must have a signed endorsement from a faculty sponsor. The Research Review Committee will examine the proposal and, within two weeks of submission, either approve the proposal or recommend clarifications or changes in the procedure.
Expedited Review
Some proposals may qualify for expedited review. The Chair of the Research Review Committee, or a member of the committee designated by the Chair, may examine and approve proposals involving the following types of research:
- Unobtrusive observation of manifestly public behavior
- Participant observation where all participants are aware of investigator's role
- Survey research in which subjects remain anonymous
- Record research where subjects are not identified by name
Any research activity with human subjects involving the following must go through full review by the Research Review Committee.
- minors or vulnerable populations (elderly, disabled) as participants
- sensitive subject matters (including but not limited to sexuality, violations of the law)
- risk that exceeds the ordinary risk of daily life
- significant deception
Questions about this policy or proposed research should be directed to a member of the Committee through the office of the Dean of Faculty.