What is a key characteristic of studies that may qualify for expedited IRB review?

Studies that focus on previously collected data without new interventions are a key characteristic that may qualify for expedited Institutional Review Board (IRB) review. This is because such studies typically involve minimal risk to participants since there is no new interaction or intervention that could adversely affect them. The use of existing data means that researchers are not placing subjects in new situations where additional risk might arise. This aligns with the streamlined nature of expedited reviews, which are designed for research designs that pose less than minimal risk and thus require less thorough oversight than studies that involve new data collection or interventions.

In contrast, studies involving extensive interviews likely require more detailed scrutiny due to the potential for emotional or psychological risks associated with revealing personal information. Likewise, studies that involve more than minimal risk to subjects automatically fall into a category requiring full review, as they need careful ethical consideration to safeguard participant welfare. Lastly, while studies with significant potential to yield generalizable knowledge are valuable, this characteristic alone does not determine eligibility for expedited review; the risk to subjects remains the primary factor in this assessment.