Research Activities Not Permitted at USU
USU is a minimal-risk institution regarding human subject research. Therefore, the university will not review or approve any studies with greater than minimal risk. Minimal risk means that the probability and magnitude of harm or discomfort anticipated in the research are not greater in and of themselves than those ordinarily encountered in daily life or during the performance of routine physical or psychological examinations or tests. Thus, all projects and research proposed at USU must fall into one of the following categories:
In order to encourage minimal risk research, certain research activities are prohibited. Therefore, no research will be permitted that:
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is conducted outside of the United States unless it occurs on a U.S. military base
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targets children (i.e., minors), prisoners, and/or pregnant women
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targets a population that would require consent from a legally authorized representative
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may induce physical, mental, or emotional discomfort
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may be perceived as harassment
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falls into the category of clinical studies of drug or medical devices
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includes activities requiring a participant to introduce a substance into their body, whether orally, topically, by injection, or any other means (e.g., supplements, medication, food, suppositories)
Additionally, doctoral students are prohibited from conducting research on subordinates (e.g., your students or people who work for you).
While research on USU constituents (e.g., students, faculty, staff) may be approved, such research must pass through institutional review before proceeding to the IRB (see Policy 211: Research with USU Constituents).