Concern that IRBs will hinder field experiments

In his PS contribution, Brian Calfano worries that the Montana postcard fiasco will lead IRBs to impede political science field experiments, especially at teaching institutions.

[Brian R. Calfano, “‘I’ Does Not Mean Infallible: Pushing Back against Institutional Review Board Overreach,” PS: Political Science & Politics 49, no. 02 (April 2016): 304–8, doi:10.1017/S1049096516000251.]

Schrag Responds to Responses to Schrag

The June 2012 issue of Research Ethics features four responses to my December 2011 essay, "The Case Against Ethics Review in the Social Sciences." Three scholars based in Canada wrote a joint response, while three in Britain wrote individual replies. I am grateful to all of the respondents for their attention, kind words, and challenging critiques.

• Nicholls, Stuart G., Jamie Brehaut, and Raphae Saginur. “Social Science and Ethics Review: A Question of Practice Not Principle.” Research Ethics 8, no. 2 (June 2012): 71–78. doi:10.1177/1747016112445435
• Hedgecoe, Adam. “The Problems of Presumed Isomorphism and the Ethics Review of Social Science: A Response to Schrag.” Research Ethics 8, no. 2 (June 2012): 79–86. doi:10.1177/1747016112445437
• Jennings, Sean. “Response to Schrag: What Are Ethics Committees for Anyway? A Defence of Social Science Research Ethics Review.” Research Ethics 8, no. 2 (June 2012): 87–96. doi:10.1177/1747016112445423
• Bond, Tim. “Ethical Imperialism or Ethical Mindfulness? Rethinking Ethical Review for Social Sciences.” Research Ethics 8, no. 2 (June 2012): 97–112. doi:10.1177/1747016112445423

Since the responses overlap somewhat in their themes, I think it best for me to respond to them collectively.

Can Macalester's Divisional Review Work Elsewhere?

In his contribution to the Professional Geographer special issue, Dan Trudeau of Macalester College writes that "IRBs can be a pedagogical asset, particularly if institutional review practices cultivate the habits of mind and strategies necessary for engaged and reflexive research." The key, his article suggests, may be the devolution of review to specialized committees rather than the general-purpose IRBs that are the norm. But Trudeau does not stress the degree to which Macalester's sucess depends on its departure from federal standards.

[Dan Trudeau, "IRBs as Asset for Ethics Education in Geography," Professional Geographer 64, no. 1 (2012): 25-33, DOI: 10.1080/00330124.2011.596786.]