If a professor is conducting oral histories about a public figure, what can they expect from the IRB?

In the context of conducting oral histories, particularly about a public figure, it is important to recognize that such projects may not always be classified as formal research. Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) focus on the ethical review of research involving human subjects for the purpose of ensuring their rights and welfare are protected. However, if the intent of the oral history project is more focused on documentation and historical analysis rather than generating new knowledge or testing hypotheses, the IRB may determine that the project does not fit the definition of research under federal regulations.

When a project falls outside of this definition, it typically does not necessitate IRB review because it isn't considered to involve human subjects in a way that meets research guidelines requiring oversight. Thus, in this case, if the study does indeed focus on understanding, documenting, or preserving the experiences related to a public figure without a scientific or research intent, the IRB may conclude it does not require formal review and therefore will not review the study. This understanding reflects a nuanced approach to how oral histories are regarded in the context of ethical oversight.